Catering: QS wants to cap the fees charged for deliveries at 20%

Currently, delivery platforms charge absolutely incredible percentages to restaurateurssays the solidarity manager for economy and finance, Haroun Bouazzi.

According to him, restaurants struggled tremendously during the COVID pandemic and are surely not at the end of their troubles when there is a recession that is showing up.

The maximum of 20% had been applied during the pandemic thanks to a bill tabled in March 2021 by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne.

This law, the application of which ended with the lifting of the health emergency, only concerned restaurants whose dining room was closed or whose opening hours were reduced due to health measures.

In the context of a pandemic, we have put in place exceptional measures to help restaurateurs get through the crisissupports Minister Lamontagne’s office in a written communication.

He says work in collaboration with the ARQ [Association Restauration Québec] and the City of Montreal on new delivery solutions.

More profits or lower prices

Mr. Bouazzi, for his part, is convinced that capping fees permanently would either increase the profit margin of restaurateurs or lower the price paid by customers. Either way, it’s a good thing.does he think.

Québec solidaire launches this appeal the day following the publication of an investigation by The Presse which mentions prices beyond the maximum allowed and taxes collected illegally by the delivery sites.

According to Mr. Bouazzi, these revelations represent only the tip of the iceberg since these are companies that always operate illegally or in legal loopholes.

He cites the data stored, the working conditions and the status of the deliverers as well as the tours of accounting sleight of hand to avoid paying taxes as problems that should be legislated once morest.

DoorDash declined to participate in an interview. Our mission is to strengthen local economies, the company argued by email. We are working with our merchant partners to support them.

Uber Eats also preferred to respond in writing. Over the past few years, we have talked a lot with local restaurateurs to learn more regarding their needs. (…) Thus, a little over a year ago, we reviewed our pricing structure, which is more flexible, in order to offer more choices to restaurateurssaid Jonathan Hamel, public affairs manager for Uber in Quebec.

SkipTheDishes did not immediately respond to messages from The Canadian Press.