Quebec's Bill 72 would require tips to be calculated on price before taxes

Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette introduced a bill on Thursday aimed at protecting consumers from "abusive commercial practices," including misleading tip suggestions on payment terminals.

Jolin-Barrette, who also oversees consumer protection, explained that Bill 72 would require businesses to calculate tips based on the price before adding Quebec and Canadian sales taxes—a practice many consumers expect.

"It's a matter of honesty," Jolin-Barrette said at a Thursday news conference. "If Quebecers want to give higher tips, it's their choice to decide the percentage they wish to give."

He emphasized that while tipping is a tradition that "is here to stay" in Quebec, consumers are increasingly feeling pressured to tip more and more quickly at restaurants.

"We shouldn't feel pressured when settling the bill," Jolin-Barrette said, adding, "Tipping must remain a discretionary choice for consumers."

He pointed out that 62% of Canadians have reported leaving a higher tip than intended due to options displayed on payment terminals.

Clear Pricing in Grocery Stores
Jolin-Barrette also highlighted that Quebec families spend an average of $330 per week on groceries. To simplify price comparisons between similar products, Bill 72 would standardize units of measurement across stores.

The bill would require businesses to clearly display product prices and indicate whether they are taxable.

"It shouldn't be difficult to find the regular price, yet we've all experienced surprise charges at the checkout," Jolin-Barrette said.

If passed, the bill would enhance compensation for customers when an item scans at a higher price than advertised in stores using optical scanners.

Quebec’s price accuracy policy, introduced nearly 25 years ago, currently allows customers to receive items priced at $10 or less for free if the scanned price is higher than the listed price. The policy, however, excludes clothing, products without barcodes, or instances when a price tag belongs to a different item.

Under the updated policy, items priced up to $15 would be offered for free if scanned incorrectly.

Businesses would have three months from the bill’s adoption to update their labeling practices for products and tips.