Since new rules came into effect in May of last year to calculate tips before taxes, Quebec’s consumer protection agency (OPC) has received hundreds of complaints against businesses, almost all of them restaurants, bars and food establishments, concerning alleged breaches related to the tipping regulations.
The OPC has revealed that they received 531 complaints between May 7, 2025 — the day that the new tipping rules were introduced — and the end of February 2026.
Also, during a six-month period between July 2025 and this past February, the OPC also found that out of 185 businesses that were inspected, mainly those that had been subject to complaints, only six of them were compliant with the tipping rules.
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Martin Guimond, the owner of Le Saint-Bock bar and restaurant in Montreal, says his business has conformed to the new tipping rules since day one and suggests that others may not follow them because of pressures to retain employees.
“I think it happens, first of all, because I know it’s sometimes for restaurants kind of hard to get some good employees,” Guimond says.
“The tips are two-thirds of the salary of an employee, so sometimes they want them to have a bigger and a higher salary first of all. But it doesn’t mean you have to don’t follow the rules.”
Montrealers told CityNews that non-compliance with the law was concerning, especially, as the practice was getting more common.
“It is worrisome, especially, since they force a tip on you when you go and pick it up for an order,” said Jeremy Fuchs.
Another Montrealer Hannah said, “I think tipping is a toxic practice and that it puts the customers and the workers that are actually feeding them against each other.”
“If they’re not conforming, I guess there’s a law against that and they’re gonna have to do so,” said Christopher Dussault.
While others said they didn’t it being a problem.
“I confess I didn’t notice that many differences,” said Tristan Belvisi.
“Most of the places I usually go to they are conforming to the new law,” said Eric de Souza.
In May of last year, the CAQ government’s Bill 72 was put in place that made it mandatory for businesses to calculate tip amounts before the Quebec sales tax and Canada’s Goods and Services tax. As well, consumers must have the option to determine the tip amount as well as predetermined options and these options must be presented in a neutral manner that does not encourage the consumer to choose one tipping option over another.
The OPC also confirmed that the 179 businesses that did not conform to the tipping rules during their inspections received a reminder notice, but that three notices of non-compliance were also issued.
Guimond says there should be consequences for non-compliance.
“Some of them have been inspected but there’s no fine so they won’t follow the rules because there’s no consequences about what restaurants should do. So why do it?”
He said restaurants should follow the rules for the good of the industry.
“It will help also people to come back in the restaurant because it’s pretty expensive,” Guimond said. “I know the economy is pretty hard and if you have a good experience and the tips is correct you will come back.”
