Kelly Higginson

CFIB Criticizes Federal Budget 2026 for Failing to Deliver Tax Relief and Tariff Support for Small Businesses

Mario Toneguzzi -
CFIB calls Budget 2026 a disappointment for small businesses, while Restaurants Canada highlights investment incentives, tax simplification and affordability measures that could benefit the restaurant industry.

Statistics Canada Reports Eighth Consecutive Monthly Increase in Restaurant Sales

Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada reports restaurant and foodservice sales rose 0.3% to $8.9 billion in August, despite ongoing profitability pressures across the industry.

67% of restaurant operators report declining profitability: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
38% expect profitability to decline next year, while just 21% anticipate an improvement, says Restaurants Canada report.

8 in 10 Canadians cutting back on restaurants: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurant sales are expected to reach $130 billion in 2026, but rising costs and thin margins continue to depress bottom lines.

Canada business groups welcome Productivity Mega Deduction as boost to investment

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada and the Retail Council of Canada welcome the federal government’s proposed Productivity Mega Deduction, saying it could spur investment in equipment, technology and infrastructure.

Restaurants Canada welcomes extension of Federal Fuel Excise Tax suspension

Mario Toneguzzi -
Gas costs have risen by an average of 46% since December 2025, contributing to higher food and transportation costs and supplier fuel surcharges, reported by 86% of restaurants.

Canada announces $27.6B in counter-tariffs on U.S. goods as retailers, restaurants and small businesses weigh impact

Mario Toneguzzi -
“Canada’s retail sector will shoulder a significant share of this burden, with so many essential consumer goods targeted."

High operating costs, uneven consumer spending put restaurants under pressure: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Real commercial foodservice sales are expected to decline by 0.2% in 2026 (inflation-adjusted), following 2.3% growth in 2025.

Restaurants Canada calls on provinces to urgently opt-in to temporary TFW cap increase for rural regions

Mario Toneguzzi -
Temporary Foreign Workers represent just 3% of the foodservice workforce and are a last resort for employers, filling critical gaps in communities with aging populations, shrinking workforces and declining youth participation rates.

Changes to Temporary Foreign Worker Program applauded by business groups

Mario Toneguzzi -
Helping employers who are facing severe labour shortages.

VIDEO: Nearly half of Canadian restaurants losing money or barely breaking even, warns Restaurants Canada CEO

Mario Toneguzzi -
44 per cent of restaurants were in that position as of November 2025, a sharp increase from pre-pandemic norms when roughly 10 to 12 per cent struggled to turn a profit.

Restaurants brace for more obstacles in 2026: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada expects real commercial foodservice sales to have grown by 2.4% in 2025 and to decline by 1.1% in 2026.

Restaurants Canada appoints Anthony Polci as executive vice-president of government relations and public affairs

Mario Toneguzzi -
The appointment took effect recently, according to the organization, and comes as Restaurants Canada continues to position its government relations and public affairs function as a core part of its work on behalf of the foodservice industry.

Food continues to be excluded from internal trade agreements, despite chronic rising costs

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada’s own data shows that food costs have gone up 12% over the past two years for foodservice businesses.

Struggling small businesses won’t find much help in the federal budget: CFIB

Mario Toneguzzi -
Federal budget was a missed opportunity to provide meaningful tax relief to Canada’s employers.

Foodservice sector added nearly 24,000 jobs since start of the year: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada expects real commercial foodservice sales to grow by 2.1% in 2025.

Restaurants could create 25,000 additional youth jobs with boost from permanent GST exemption

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants are the number one source of first-time jobs for Canadians.

3 in 4 Canadians dining out less amid rising costs: Restaurants Canada report

Mario Toneguzzi -
65% of Canadians are replacing a traditional meal with a snack at least once a month, says Restaurants Canada.

Restaurants Canada pushes back on B.C. Premier’s criticism of Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Mario Toneguzzi -
There are geographic areas and skill gaps that make it necessary for some foodservice businesses to recruit temporary foreign workers, says Restaurants Canada.

Restaurants Canada says supply of Temporary Foreign Works represents only a small but critical percentage of the total workforce

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants are a $120 billion industry employing nearly 1.2 million Canadians and the number one source of first-time jobs in Canada.

Restaurants Canada backs Premiers’ call for faster work permits for asylum seekers, immigration reform

Mario Toneguzzi -
A collaborative federal-provincial framework that is responsive to regional realities is essential, says Restaurants Canada

80,000 new jobs, $5.4B in savings by removing GST on food: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing Canada’s diverse and dynamic foodservice industry.

Canada’s 2025 dining trends: Restaurants Canada/Circana report

Mario Toneguzzi -
Canadians are expecting more value for their dollars as they grapple with affordability and that’s reflected in many of the trends highlighted in this report, says Restaurants Canada.

Restaurant sales projected to contract in 2025 amid trade war with U.S.: Restaurants Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Restaurants Canada expects annual commercial foodservice sales to contract between 0.4% and 1.5% in 2025 and between 0.6% and 1.4% in 2026, depending on how the tariff dispute with the U.S. evolves.

Ontario’s free trade legislation a game changer for Canada’s internal trade framework, but more provinces need to get on board

Mario Toneguzzi -
“Every premier in Canada should be looking to Ontario and doing what it did (recently) on interprovincial trade.”
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