Quebec budget is good news for restaurant industry

Published March 27, 2015

QUEBEC CITY, March 27, 2015 – Restaurants Canada commends the Quebec government for listening to our members and taking action on long-standing concerns about red tape, bottle stamping, and tax credits for tips.

Yesterday’s budget promises to review alcohol legislation. It will ease the administrative burden on restaurants by:

  • simplifying the alcohol permit system for restaurants and bars; and
  • finding different ways to settle infractions on bottle stamping.

“We’ve been after governments for decades to reduce the red tape associated with alcohol permits, and this government is doing something meaningful to help our industry,” says Jean Lefebvre, Restaurants Canada’s Quebec Vice President. “We’ve always argued for a better alcohol system, and we’re pleased the government understands just how cumbersome the current system is.”

Restaurants Canada also commends the government for rejecting the fiscal commission’s recommendation to cut the tax credit on tips declared.

“We opposed the Godbout report, as it’s not fair to tax restaurateurs for employee tips – a revenue pool employers can’t access or control,” says Lefebvre. “Our members already face intense cost pressures. Retaining this credit will help them keep their doors open and hire more Quebecers.”

Quebec’s restaurants directly employ more than 280,000 people. The restaurant industry is the number one source of first-time jobs, and it employs one in five youth in the province. It also supports local businesses – more than 60 per cent of the products it purchases are from Quebec.

“This budget recognizes our industry’s challenges, and opens the door for a real partnership,” says Lefebvre. “Our members want to work with the government to grow jobs and the economy.”

Restaurants Canada (formerly the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association) is a national association comprising 30,000 businesses in every segment of the foodservice industry, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and their suppliers. Through advocacy, research, and member programs and services, Restaurants Canada is dedicated to helping its members in every community grow and prosper.

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