Bars and restaurants in Montreal respond to a measure in Quebec regulating demands for tips from merchants
The legislation, introduced on Thursday, will regulate how suggested tips are calculated by businesses, ensuring tips are based on pre-tax prices rather than post-tax totals.
Julia Dougall-Picard, a 20-year-old server at Frite Alors in Montreal's Quartier Latin, is preparing for changes to her income due to a new bill in Quebec.
The legislation, introduced on Thursday, will regulate how suggested tips are calculated by businesses, ensuring tips are based on pre-tax prices rather than post-tax totals.
Dougall-Picard welcomes the change, stating, "I’d rather be paying tips on what I ordered and not on the taxes." She also believes the new system may encourage patrons to tip more generously.
Like many servers, Dougall-Picard relies heavily on tips since her base wage is below minimum wage.
However, opinions on the bill vary within the industry. Jaskaran Singh, a manager at Arriba Burrito, expresses disappointment, emphasizing that tipping has always been a challenge, especially with low base wages and tourists who often don't tip.
Meanwhile, Marc-Antoine Bourdages, manager of Brasseurs du Monde, doesn't mind the change but acknowledges that his staff, who rely heavily on tips, might not agree.
Martin Vézina, vice-president of public affairs at the Quebec Restaurant Association, notes that the bill will result in less income for servers but might reduce credit card fees and taxes for restaurant owners.
Vézina also sees the legislation as a missed chance to address "no-show" reservations, which cost Quebec restaurants an average of $47,000 annually.
