Ford needs to show the data he is using to close Ontario’s restaurants

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

In an open letter to Ontario’s premier Doug Ford, a number of leaders from the province’s food establishment have requested that they be handed the data that the province is using to close their dining businesses at random.

These restaurants want to understand why they are being singled out with heightened restrictions as the province continues to respond to what it calls a second wave.

Seeing that dining rooms provide a safe alternative to private gatherings, Restaurants Canada and 44 leaders from Ontario’s foodservice sector have sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford calling for:

• Clear and transparent data to understand what is driving government decisions related to dining restrictions.
• Consultation with industry to address any concerns identified by the data.

Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing the potential of Canada’s diverse and dynamic food service industry through member programs, research, advocacy, resources and events.

Before the start of this present situation, Ontario’s foodservice sector was a $37 billion industry, directly employing more than 480,000 people, providing the province’s number one source of first jobs and serving 9.1 million customers every day. Ontario’s foodservice industry lost more than 215,000 jobs by April and is on track to lose as much as $17.8 billion in annual sales compared to 2019 due to the impacts of this present situation.

“Restaurants deserve to see the data driving decisions impacting their operations and have a chance to work with the government on solutions to keep their dining rooms open,” said Restaurants Canada President and CEO Todd Barclay.

Barclay said in a press release that since the present situation started, foodservice operators have made major investments in new procedures. They invested in procedures like training, personal protective equipment and other means to ensure the highest levels of safety for their staff and patrons.

“Government,” he said, “should be doing everything possible to help them avoid the devastating consequences of indoor dining closures so they can continue contributing to the economic and social fabric of their communities.”

Restaurants Canada estimates that the indoor dining closures mandated in what the government call (Ontario’s hot spots) have so far resulted in:

• Sales losses of as much as 80% for full-service restaurants and more than 40% for quick-service restaurants.
• Tens of thousands of jobs lost across the province:

– 12,000 in Ottawa
– 33,000 in Toronto
– 14,900 in Peel Region
– 8,800 in York Region

These figures do not include Halton and Durham regions, which if included could cost another 8,500 job losses in total.

“Restaurants and the many small and medium-sized businesses that make up Ontario’s food service sector are a critical load-bearing pillar of the province’s economy,” said James Rilett (Restaurants Canada Vice President, Central Canada).

“Without transparent transmission data and further government support, half of all independent restaurants are at risk of closing within a year. This would not only be a terrible loss for communities across the province, but the many other businesses that rely on a thriving food service sector for their survival.”

Before the present situation was implemented, Ontario’s food service industry comprised approximately 38,000 establishments. The industry was also contributing 4% to Ontario’s GDP and serving more than 9 million customers every day.

These facilities also support a wide variety of other businesses across the province, indirectly supporting more than 110,000 jobs and typically spending more than $13 billion per year on food and drink purchases, playing a crucial role for Ontario farmers and the agri-food sector.

This letter concluded by reminding the government of Ontario that restaurants are key to the province’s recovery. Let’s ensure we are doing everything possible to help them avoid the devastating consequences of indoor dining closures so they can continue contributing to the economic and social fabric of their communities.

Anyone who is interested in ensuring that restaurants receive the data they need to survive this present situation can send a letter to their MPP in support of the recommendations sent to Premier Ford: https://info.restaurantscanada.org/ontario-letter