Celebrating 80 Years of Impact at RC Show

15 avril 2025 Share on your social channels

Restaurants Canada just wrapped up an unforgettable 80th annual RC Show—truly a powerful display of our industry’s scale, influence, and unity. It was a defining moment for our association, members, and the entire Canadian foodservice and hospitality community. Among the many standout moments; opening the show with Premier Ford and many of his ministers and of course the Garland competition that stole the show. With a talented and diverse group of young chefs, the competition was intense. Congratulations to all who rose to the challenge, and a special shoutout to this year’s winner Maya Petten of Newfoundland’s Merchant Tavern!

As mentioned, we were thrilled to have Ontario Premier Ford and Finance Minister Bethlenfalvy help us kick off the Show at the ribbon cutting ceremony, where Premier Ford reaffirmed his promise to increase the LCBO wholesale discount from 10% to 15%.

The Premier spoke about the importance of the foodservices sector and about how he and other political leaders from across Canada are committed to protecting foodservices businesses and jobs. We thank the Premier and his team for the announcement, and for numerous other actions he and his government have taken in recent years to help protect jobs and restaurants, including: freezing alcohol taxes; allowing restaurants and bars to offer alcohol with take-out and deliver; significant WSIB relief; $1.4M granted to Restaurants Canada in 2024 as part of the Ontario Skills Development Fund; and more. We were also happy to see Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity; Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business; Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming; Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport; and Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness at the RC Show.

Incredible conversations with industry leaders

Another standout was my conversation with the legendary Chef José Andrés, a memory I’ll always cherish. A true force of nature, his achievements reflect what’s possible when purpose fuels potential. But his impact isn’t outside our industry—it defines it.

Hospitality may be the original superpower: rooted in humanity, scaled through service, and led by those who run toward need. Every day, in Canada and around the world, hospitality professionals embody that spirit.

I was fortunate to moderate two others special conversations with industry leaders that were personally impactful.

The first, was my discussion with Mo Jessa, From prep cook to President: Mo Jessa’s Earls Evolution. Mo Jessa started as a prep cook and climbed all the way to President of Earls. After 30+ years of driving growth, innovation, and culture shifts, he shared his leadership insight, bold moves and how to lead with humility and strength!

My final discussion was with Michèle Boudria, President & CEO of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, who oversees operations across 1,400+ restaurants nationwide. A people-first leader, she focuses on driving business results and fulfilling McDonald’s purpose of nourishing and connecting communities.

As McDonald’s Canada’s first female President & CEO, Michèle began her career more than 35 years ago behind the counter. She is dedicated to ensuring McDonald’s remains a leader in driving positive change in Canada. Throughout her career, Michèle has built strong teams to support McDonald’s vision, always prioritizing people. I was honoured to have some time to chat with Michele about her career and leadership approach!

Building political momentum in the face of tariffs and a federal election

As Canada’s 4th largest employer, this industry fuels the economy, connects people, and supports countless sectors—from agriculture and tourism to finance and real estate. That’s not just important—it’s foundational. And at this year’s show, we celebrated exactly that: our strength, momentum, and shared purpose.

That momentum is being noticed. Since November 2024, we’ve added nearly 35,000 jobs—thanks in part to the GST/HST holiday—and restaurant transactions rose 7.6%, injecting $1.5B into the economy. But momentum doesn’t last on its own. We have to keep driving it.

Strategic advocacy is at the core of that. It’s not a side project—it’s our future. From immigration reform to rising tariffs and taxes, government decisions shape our industry daily. And when our community supports our work, our voice gets stronger.

We’re at a turning point. Fragmentation weakens our message—unity amplifies it. Tariffs, in particular, pose an urgent threat, and our recent engagement proves the industry is paying attention. That’s why we’re expanding resources to keep operators informed, prepared, and resilient.

The current federal election is another opportunity to influence policy that will strengthen our sector. We have reached out to all the major parties to share our recommendations and are tracking their election promises that would impact our industry. Read more about our work ahead of the election and highlights of policy commitments from each party on our Election Page. We saw a great example of the power of our combined voice on the last day of the RC Show, when the Newfoundland and Labrador government announced in its provincial budget it is doubling its alcohol wholesale discount to 10% and creating a new $10M loan guarantee program for restaurants. Atlantic VP Janick Cormier was at the announcement to reaffirm the importance of supporting our sector. Read our reaction to the budget here.

RC Show is more than a trade event. It’s a celebration of people, purpose, and potential. Thank you to our members, guests, exhibitors, and especially our partners and corporate sponsors—GroupEx, Garland, Interac, Gordon Foodservice, Amex, PepsiCo, Diversey, Highliner, Moneris, and BUNN. Your support powers our mission.

As we mark 80 years, let’s treat this not just as a milestone, but a call to action—to unify, advocate, and build the future this industry deserves.

To our Restaurants Canada team—thank you for your incredible dedication. And to everyone who joined us at RC Show: let’s keep the momentum going.

*All photos in this post are credited to Savage Media Group Inc.

SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE

From Jillian Rodak | Vice President, Sustainability

B.C.’s Non-residential Packaging Waste What We Heard Report

On March 27^th, the BC Government released engagement & survey summaries from its consultation on non-residential packaging waste, including front-of-house and back-of-house packaging waste in restaurants. While some stakeholders supported consistent, province-wide regulations for reuse and extended producer responsibility (EPR), others raised concerns around increased costs. Notably, foodservice businesses were identified as a top priority area for waste prevention in the public survey.

While the government’s 2021–2026 EPR Action Plan includes a commitment to identify a policy approach for non-residential waste in 2025, given current economic conditions, this issue is unlikely to be prioritized by the government in the near term. Restaurants Canada will continue to monitor this file closely and engage with the BC Government, particularly given escalating cost concerns.

Federal Election Monitoring

Throughout the 2025 federal election, Restaurants Canada has been closely monitoring party campaigns for announcements related to sustainability, including climate policy, plastics/packaging regulations, and waste reduction. Given potential impacts to the foodservice sector, we will continue to provide members with timely updates.

We’ll take a deeper dive into these issues at our May Sustainability Committee Meeting, where we’ll unpack what the new government means for our industry and the broader sustainability agenda.

FEDERAL UPDATE

From Maximilien Roy | Vice-President, Federal & Québec

Update on U.S. Tariffs

President Trump’s 90-day pause on new tariffs offers a temporary reprieve for the economy, but Canada continues to face significant tariffs from the U.S.:

25% tariffs on steel and aluminum;
10% tariffs on energy;
25% tariffs on autos, and
25% tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant exports

While approximately 80% of food exports are exempt due to CUSMA compliance, non-compliant items like coffee—which Canada only processes, not produces—remain subject to tariffs.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, announced on March 13 and covering $29.8 billion worth of goods, remain in effect. These include key staples such as tomatoes, chicken, cleaning products, etc. We continue to advocate for removal of these products from the list due to their importance in Canadian kitchens. You can view the full list of affected items here.

We’ll continue to monitor developments and keep you updated. We encourage you to visit our tariffs FAQ page for the latest information.

Temporary Foreign Workers Program: Still a potential option for Workforce Solution

As many of you continue to face staffing challenges across the country, and as patio season is starting, we want to remind you that the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) Program remains a viable option to help address critical labour shortages in our industry.

The program continues to support businesses in bringing in qualified workers when local candidates are not available, helping you maintain operations and deliver the quality service your customers expect.

We encourage all members to reach out directly to Service Canada to get the most up-to-date information on program eligibility, application requirements, and processing times.

Staying informed ensures your business can take full advantage of this important resource while remaining compliant with current regulations. Other existing programs can be found in our International Workers’ toolkit.

If you have questions or need additional guidance, Restaurants Canada is here to support you.

Quebec: New tipping obligations

New obligations related to tipping, introduced under Bill 72, will come into effect on May 7, 2025.

As of this date, tips on payment terminals must always be calculated based on the pre-tax amount. Consumers must always have the option to choose the tip amount themselves, and when presenting multiple tip options, each must be displayed with equal visibility and prominence.

We encourage all members to contact their POS service providers to ensure compliance before the deadline, as well as review their payroll practices, tip-sharing policies, and employee communications to ensure compliance.

Compliance with Quebec’s Language Laws: deadlines approaching

Public Signage Compliance – June 1, 2025
All businesses operating in Quebec must ensure that French is markedly predominant on all public signage, including outdoor signs, window displays, and commercial advertising. This applies to both permanent and temporary signs.

Registration with the OQLF – December 1, 2025
Businesses with 25 or more employees in Quebec must register with the OQLF and begin the francization process if not already in compliance starting June 1^st, 2025. You have six months to register, making the deadline December 1, 2025, but there are necessary steps to take ahead of time. This includes demonstrating the use of French as the normal and everyday language in the workplace.

What You Should Do:

Review your signage to ensure French is at least twice as prominent as any other language.
Update your marketing and promotional materials accordingly.
Register with the OQLF if your business meets the employee threshold and is not yet registered. The necessary form to fill can be found here.
Consult legal or linguistic experts if you are unsure about your obligations.

We encourage you to begin preparing now to avoid any penalties and ensure a smooth transition. Restaurants Canada continues to advocate on your behalf and provide resources to help you navigate these regulatory changes.

ATLANTIC UPDATE

From Janick Cormier | Vice-President, Atlantic Canada

Prince Edward Island Minimum Wage Increase

The province of PEI is expected to raise the minimum wage by $1 to $17 per hour. They have now revealed the mechanics of this hike.

First, the rate will increase from $16 to $16.50 per hour on October 1, 2025. The second increase from $16.50 to $17 per hour will take place on April 1st 2026.

We know that this increase in costs is of concern to members. I will be advocating for a wage subsidy to help with the transition. This has been done successfully in Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador so we’re hoping to be able to replicate that success in PEI as well. We will continue to work to help government understand the unique impact minimum wage hikes have on our labour-intense industry.

CENTRAL CANADA UPDATE

From Kris Barnier | Vice President, Central Canada and the North

Ontario Announces Actions to Protect Workers and Employers Through Uncertainty

The Ontario government is providing approximately $11 billion in relief and support for workers and businesses as it protects the province’s economy from economic uncertainty and the impact of U.S. tariffs. Key planks include:

Deferring select provincially administered taxes for six months from April 1, 2025, to October 1, 2025, giving businesses and job creators approximately $9 billion worth of additional cash flow.
Through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), issuing a further $2 billion rebate for safe employers to support businesses and help keep workers on the job, in addition to the previous $2 billion rebate distributed in March.

Click here for more information.

Ontario to Increase Minimum Wage from $17.20 to $17.60, effective Oct 1, 2025.

The wage increase, tied to CPI, aligns with our expectations for a 2.4% increase. While not as daunting as much larger increases in recent years, we are continuing to work to help the government understand the vulnerabilities of our sector, and the unique impact minimum wage has on our labour-intense industry. While many recent government actions have helped our industry (i.e. alcohol policy, cheques to Ontarians, HST holiday), we will continue to look to the Ontario government for additional efforts to help protect jobs and restaurant locations.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we’re unstoppable.