Québec solidaire proposes on Sunday to limit to 20% the fees that platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes can charge merchants.
“Currently, delivery platforms charge absolutely incredible percentages to restaurateurs,” says the solidarity manager for Economy and Finance, Haroun Bouazzi.
According to him, restaurants “had a lot of trouble during COVID” and are certainly not at the end of their sentences, while “there is a recession that is looming”.
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. The law, which ended with the lifting of the health emergency, concerned restaurants whose dining room was closed or whose opening hours were reduced because of health measures.
“In the context of a pandemic, we have implemented exceptional measures to help restaurateurs get through the crisis,” said Minister Lamontagne’s office in a written communication. He says he is working “in collaboration with the ARQ (Association Restauration Québec) and the City of Montreal on new delivery solutions”.
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, he thinks.
Québec solidaire launches this call the day after the publication of a survey by La Presse reporting prices beyond the maximum allowed and taxes collected illegally by delivery sites.
According to Mr. Bouazzi, these revelations represent only the tip of the iceberg, while “these are companies that operate illegally or in legal loopholes all the time”. He cites the stored data, working conditions and status of delivery people and “accounting sleight of hand” tricks to avoid paying taxes as examples of issues that should be legislated.
DoorDash declined to participate in an interview. “Our mission is to strengthen local economies,” the company said by email. We work 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 find out more about their needs. […] This is why, a little over a year ago, we reviewed our pricing structure, which is more flexible, in order to offer more choices to restaurateurs,” said Jonathan Hamel, public affairs manager for Uber in Quebec.
SkipTheDishes did not immediately respond to messages from The Canadian Press.