Budget 2022 leaves restaurants hungry for more, say industry groups

Hospitality and foodservice industry associations have criticized the federal Budget 2022 published on April 7, with Restaurants Canada saying that it leaves restaurants “hungry for more” by failing to address key issues. The association said that while it welcomes a number of commitments made by the federal government, failing to respond to calls for extended […]

Two new grants available to Canadian restaurants

Eligible Canadian restaurants now have two further grants potentially available to help cope with the impacts of COVID-19. On March 4, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. The program aims to assist these businesses, including restaurants, in growing their online […]

DoorDash offering restaurant financing to partners

DoorDash is introducing a new merchant service that provides partner restaurant financing in the form of cash advances for its merchants. DoorDash Capital is described as a new merchant service that provides fair and convenient access to financing for eligible merchants. The idea is that at a time when getting investment and capital is more difficult than […]

Commercial foodservice sales forecast to rise to $80B in 2022

Restaurants Canada’s latest industry forecast predicts that commercial foodservice sales will grow to $80.4 billion across the country in 2022. That would be a 24.3 per cent increase over 2021 and would result in annual sales that are 4.4 per cent above 2019 levels.  A Restaurants Canada release says the forecast for 2022 reflects the continued […]

Canada introducing new hospitality and restaurant subsidies

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on October 21 that the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) will expire on October 23, and will be replaced the next day by targeted benefits including restaurant subsidies and programs to help individuals whose work is impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns. The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit will provide […]

8 out of 10 Canadian restaurants still barely surviving

The latest survey from Restaurants Canada has found that eight out of 10 surviving Canadian restaurants are still barely scraping by, nearly 18 months into the pandemic. According to the latest data drawn from the study conducted in July: Over half (55 per cent) of restaurant operators said they are still operating at a loss […]

Beer Canada calls for cut to draught beer duty to aid restaurants

Beer Canada is calling on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to implement targeted support measures to help save local restaurants as part of its 2022 pre-budget consultations. In particular, the organization is advocating for a 50-per-cent tax cut on draught beer sold to licensed bars and restaurants. “A 50-per-cent tax cut on […]

ORHMA lauds Liberal plan to support hospitality sector

The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel, and Motel Association (ORHMA) has described the Liberal government’s proposed supports for the hospitality and tourism sectors as “a big win” for the industry. OHRMA notes that over the past several months it has been actively involved in the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, advocating for sector-specific support and an extension […]

Federal government extends wage and rent subsidies

The federal government is extending its existing wage and rent subsidies until late October in a move that should boost the recovery prospects of small businesses and restaurants. The Government of Canada announced on July 30 that supports including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS), and Lockdown Support will be […]

Ontario RABS Fund helping secure restaurants’ future

Assistance from inside and outside the Canadian foodservice industry has been vital to so many operators during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vastly reduced traffic and revenues, staffing challenges, and the myriad other issues caused by the pandemic have seen restaurants close from coast to coast in Canada, in many cases permanently. In many cases, governmental support […]