Skip to Main Content

CEO Notes

Essential updates on national and regional industry news, strategic priorities, and advocacy efforts from Kelly Higginson, Restaurants Canada President & CEO. 

For media inquiries, please contact media@restaurantscanada.org

CEO Notes

RC Show is just days away! Join us April 7-9!

Restaurants Canada AGM and Board Update This past week, Restaurants Canada held its Annual General Meeting to appoint a new Chair, Nicolas Filiatrault, CEO of Benny&Co., eight new Directors, and reaffirm the board’s strong confidence in the work we are…

CEO Notes

It’s been another tumultuous week for tariffs.

It’s been another tumultuous week for tariffs. Consumer confidence is at a low, certain regions are facing job losses and slowdowns that will affect discretionary spending, retaliatory tariffs are driving up the cost of U.S. goods and our purchasing power…

CEO Notes

The United States is expected to impose 25% tariffs on Canada tomorrow, March 4, which will prompt Canada to respond in kind.

Tariffs The United States is expected to impose 25% tariffs on Canada tomorrow, March 4, which will prompt Canada to respond in kind. Restaurants Canada has been actively involved in addressing this issue since late November, and our engagement has…

CEO Notes

Our team has been working at full capacity to ensure our industry’s voice is heard.

The past few weeks have been intense for Canada and the foodservice sector. Our team has been working at full capacity to ensure our industry’s voice is heard, providing critical feedback to all levels of government while also delivering essential…

CEO Notes

The past several weeks has been a whirlwind of political chaos

Advocacy The past several weeks has been a whirlwind of political chaos, unlike anything we’ve seen in some time, not to mention developments south of the border. Our team has been actively engaging with all federal parties to ensure our…

CEO Notes

U.S. Trade Tariffs & Canadian Retaliatory Measures

The recent announcement of 25% tariffs by the U.S. administration, along with potential Canadian retaliatory measures, poses a serious threat to our industry. These tariffs will drive up operational costs, disrupt supply chains, and put jobs at risk on both…

CEO Notes

U.S. Tariffs Special Update: What This Means for Foodservice

Tomorrow, we may see President Trump announce new tariffs on Canadian goods, a decision that impacts all of us but more specifically those of you who export goods to the United States. Canada’s response to these tariffs could have further…

CEO Notes

Mark your calendar, this is truly monumental.

I am thrilled to announce Restaurants Canada has partnered with High Liner Foods to bring Chef José Andrés to RC Show 2025 as our 80th-anniversary headliner. This is monumental. Chef José Andrés is a global icon of culinary and social…

CEO Notes

An eventful start to the year in Ottawa with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the prorogation of Parliament

The start of the year in Ottawa has been eventful with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the prorogation of Parliament. Despite these changes, Restaurants Canada remains committed to reducing costs, fostering growth, and supporting innovation in the foodservice industry….

CEO Notes

Restaurants Canada has just achieved one of its biggest advocacy wins to date.

This has been a turbulent week in Canadian politics. With the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Housing Minister Sean Fraser Monday just before the Fall Economic Statement, it looks like an early election and a change in…