Restaurants Canada would like to thank the Government of Quebec for presenting measures to improve the AERAM program specific to the restaurant industry.

Prime Minister Legault, during the recent announcement of the closure of non-essential businesses, shared that his government would be there to support businesses that had to close again. The restaurateurs were anxious and desperate, some of whom had just reopened and stocked up on food and rehired their staff.

"Today, Minister Fitzgibbon's announcement shows us that the Quebec government is well aware of the difficulties our restaurateurs are going through and that it really wants to help them", explains Olivier Bourbeau, Vice-President, Restaurants Canada, Federal and Quebec.

Beyond the extension of the moratorium for the repayment of capital and interest related to the financial assistance granted and the additional support of $ 45,000 for establishments that have closed for more than 180 days, the granting of an amount up to up to $ 10,000 to offset the cost of closing a restaurant shows that the government has listened to the industry and is well aware of the difficulties that restaurant owners are currently experiencing; as a result of the sanitary measures which caused their establishments to close. In addition, it should be noted that caterers will ultimately obtain support, retroactively until January 1.

“These bonus measures come at a critical time for our restaurateurs who have been in survival mode for months. Each targeted action to support our industry will save several of our restaurants across Quebec ”; to conclude, M. Bourbeau.

About Restaurants Canada

Restaurants Canada is a growing community of over 30,000 food service businesses, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and suppliers. The association has over 6,000 members in Quebec. Through service, research and advocacy, we connect our members in all regions of the country to promote the strength and dynamism of our industry. Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian food service sector was an industry with an annual turnover of $ 95 billion that directly employed 1.2 million workers, including nearly 300,000 in Quebec.

Source: Restaurants Canada