Restaurants Canada, previously known as the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association is a national, not-for-profit member-based trade association and industry advocacy group that advances the interests of the foodservice industry through lobbying, member programs, research, advocacy, resources, and events.
Members
In 2024, Restaurants Canada had almost 30,000 members.
Membership is open to any foodservice operator in the Canadian foodservice industry, and partnership opportunities are open to any industry suppliers, and industry professionals providing a product or service to the foodservice industry.
Large companies connected to the organization include:
- Recipe Unlimited Corporation (Swiss Chalet, Kelseys, Montana’s, East Side Mario’s, Harvey’s, The Keg)
- Restaurant Brands International (Tim Hortons Canada, also Burger King, Popeyes, Firehouse Subs)
- Board of Directors includes representatives of:
- Boston Pizza International
- McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited
- A&W Food Services of Canada
- Restaurant Brands International
- Recipe Unlimited Corporation
- MTY Franchising Inc.
- Imago Restaurants Inc.
- Chef Inspired Group of Restaurants and Food Trucks
- Neighbourhood Group of Companies
- Hub City Social Inc.
- Scales Group of Companies
- Earls Restaurants Ltd.
Goals
We work closely with government at all levels to advocate for policies and regulations that support a thriving restaurant and foodservice industry. This includes issues related to labor, taxation, food safety, and sustainability.
- Mission: The champion that unites our industry and fuels success through Advocacy, Connection, and Support
- Vision: Vibrant and thriving restaurant and foodservice communities across Canada
Funding
Corporate sponsors include:
- Platinum
- Groupex
- Interac
- Gordon Food Service
- Garland Canada
- Gold
- Pepsico
- High Liner Foodservice
- Diversey
- American Express
- Silver
Government funding
- $78,739.00 from Global Affairs Canada in 2023
- $232,862.00 from Global Affairs Canada in 2022
- $442,968.00 from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in 2022
Source: Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying in Canada
Contributions
Lobbyists
- Kris Barnier – Previously Employee in the office of a minister of Cabinet
- Jordan Morgan – Previously Director Of Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Of Hrsdc, Hrsdc
- Maximilien Roy – Previously Director Of Operations For The Minister Of Tourism, Official Languages And La Francophonie Innovation, Science & Economic Development, Minister’s Office and Policy Advisor To The Minister Of Finance Ministry Of Finance, Finance Canada
- Mark Von Schellwitz – Previously Special Assistant To Federal Minister Energy Mines & Resources, Minister Office
- Richard Alexander
- Kelly Higginson
- Tracy Macgregor
- Jillian Rodak
Lobbying activity
Lobbying Government Institutions
- Jwane Izzetpanah, Stakeholder Relations Advisor | Party Leader – Conservative | House of Commons
- Paul Thompson, Associate Deputy Minister | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
- Brad Vis, Member of Parliament | House of Commons
Source: Lobbying Communications – Investigative Journalism Foundation
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Policies or Program, Regulation
- Healthy Eating Strategy – to ensure that policy and regulation proposals on the restriction of unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children, sodium reduction initiatives, menu labelling requirements, related initiatives are balanced, reasonable and science-based. Providing input into Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy consultations.
Policies or Program
- Agriculture trade policy with regard to trade liberalization opportunities
- Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) regarding annual dairy pricing
- Chicken and Turkey Tariff Rate Quota Advisory Committee (TQAC) regarding import quota
- Economic Strategy Tables – Continue to work closely with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in contributing to Canada’s Economic Strategy Tables by ensuring the discussion help reflect the concerns of our industry
- Employment Insurance with respect to policy for establishing premium rates
- Nutritional labeling policy with respect to provision of nutrition information
- Taxation policy with regard to corporate, small business and personal income taxes
Policies or Program, Regulation
- Immigration policy with respect to workers programs and permits
- Regulations and policies pertaining to Canada Pension Plan employer/employee premiums
- Regulations and policies regarding fees to SOCAN and ReSound
- Tax policy on alcohol (escalator excise tax).
Regulation
- Amendments to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act to exempt wines purchased by restaurants regarding the transportation and sale of beverage between provinces.
- Environmental regulations regarding plastics and recycling
- Regulation of financial institutions with respect to credit card fees
Regulation, Policies or Program
- Immigration policy with respect to workers programs and permits
- Regulations and policies pertaining to Canada Pension Plan employer/employee premiums
- Regulations and policies regarding fees to SOCAN and ReSound
- Tax policy on alcohol (escalator excise tax).
Regulation, Policies or Program, Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Healthy Eating Strategy – to ensure that policy and regulation proposals on the restriction of unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children, sodium reduction initiatives, menu labelling requirements, related initiatives are balanced, reasonable and science-based. Providing input into Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy consultations.
Source: Lobbying Registration – Investigative Journalism Foundation
Warning that the $100B restaurant industry is struggling post-COVID
Half of restaurants and food service companies report operating at a loss or just breaking-even as food costs continue to grow.
300 restaurants declared bankruptcy in the first 5 months of 2023 – an increase of 89% from the same period in 2022
8-in-10 food service companies report lower profits in 2023 than 2019 and 70% of Canadians are visiting full-service restaurants
less frequently
Restaurant Canada’s 2024 Budget recommendations ask for new temporary foreign worker stream for the food sector, pathway for food service workers to get Permanent Residency
Improving Business Conditions for Foodservice Businesses
- Lower Federal Small Business Tax Rate to 8%
- Index Passive Investment Income Threshold to Inflation
- Permanently Maintain Cap on Alcohol Excise Tax Escalator
- Allow Restaurant Meals to be an Entirely Deductible Business Expense
- Support Alignment on Recycling and Packaging Initiatives
Creating Jobs and Streamlining Employment Pathways
- Create New Temporary Foreign Worker Stream for the Food Sector
- Create Program for Food Service Workers to Become Permanent Residents
- Expedite Implementation of Trusted Employer Program.
- Provide Temporary Reprieve on the Labour Market Information Assessment
Create a New Temporary Foreign Worker Program Stream for the Food Sector
One key mechanism to augment workforce capacity is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which ensures employers can quickly bring in workers to fill short-term labor market gaps. However, program capacity is limited, and it does not include foodsector specific streams despite the industry’s unique needs and historic vacancies.
One model of a sector specific TFWP stream is in the agriculture industry. To be eligible for the Agriculture Stream, employers must be hiring for production in specific commodity sectors with activity that relates to on-farm primary agriculture. Creation of a similar model in the food services industry would address key and sector-specific labour demands. We recommend that this new food-service-specific stream include the following features:
- Employers submitting an LMIA application who are experiencing long term vacancies may request an employment duration of 2 years, as opposed to the standard 1 year (available in the Agricultural Stream and the meat processing pilot project).
- Employers submitting an LMIA application for a high wage position may request an employment duration of up to 3 years (available in the Agricultural Stream)
- Make permanent the measure allowing food service to hire up to 30% of the workforce through TFWP for low-wage positions.
- Enable companies with several restaurants or franchises to file a single labor market impact assessment (LMIA) application for up to 20 workers in up to 10 restaurants.
- Waive fees for a single restaurant owner with a profit margin below 10%.
Create a Sectoral Program for Food Service Workers to Become Permanent Residents
As Canada seeks to achieve ambitious population growth targets in coming years, Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) are an important group to consider, having familiarity with the Canadian landscape and having relevant Canadian work experience. We recommend the creation of a new pathway for TFWs in food service to obtain permanent residence similar to the Agri-Food Immigration pilot.
Restaurant Canada says TFW Program represents 3% of industry workforce, up from 1% pre-pandemic
Reopening an industry that is the fourth largest private employer in the country was no small feat and as a result, the TFW program was a short-term necessity. Our industry is moving away from the program now that job vacancies are dropping. The industry’s strong preference is to provide locals with employment opportunities.
Restaurants Canada Response to UN Report on Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Number of temporary foreign workers at food counters increased 4,109% between 2016 and 2023
In 2023, Canadian employers were authorized to hire 8,333 foreign workers to fill positions as food counter attendants and kitchen helpers — nearly double the 4,478 positions approved in 2022 and a huge increase from the 198 positions approved in 2016.
Originally designed to fill jobs Canadians could not or would not take — including agricultural workers, domestic workers and some highly skilled jobs — Canada’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) program is increasingly being used to provide staff for restaurants and fast food chains, including some Tim Hortons, McDonald’s, A&W, Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza franchises.
The number of foreign workers in Canada’s $100-billion food service sector has surged, shooting up by more than 4,000 per cent between 2016 and 2023, along with huge increases in the number of TFWs working in the health care sector and construction.
As the program ballooned, so have the number allegations of abuse and fraud — to the point where earlier this week Canadian Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault declared that the “abuse and misuse of the TFW program must end,” and promised more stringent oversight to keep “bad actors” in check.
‘A new kind of slavery’: Skyrocketing use of temporary foreign workers in restaurants and fast food chains has advocates concerned – Toronto Star
Largest members would greatly the most from Restaurant Canada’s recommendations
In contrast to the restaurants going bankrupt, major members and partners, while not necessarily setting record profits, seem to be doing okay based on their stock market performance: