TORONTO ― Amidst the sampling of different food products and “kicking the tires” of new restaurant equipment, Restaurants Canada executives also hosted the annual AGM yesterday at the Direct Energy Centre. It was a chance to bid adieu to outgoing chair Liam Dolan, and welcome Paul Methot, VP of Operations at Pizza Pizza, as the new chair.
“In a world that is changing faster and faster, we need to adapt or risk getting left behind,” said Dolan, referencing the busy year he’s had as the association’s chair. Among the issues Dolan cited as being important are credit-card fees, wholesale liquor pricing and Temporary Foreign Workers. “I will continue to roll up my sleeves and to do what’s needed,” said the ebullient Dolan.
The outgoing chair stressed the importance of lobbying and advocacy to keep these issues front and centre. “It’s important that we not pay credit card fees on the tax portion of a restaurant check,” said Dolan. “That costs us a lot of money.” With reference to the contentious Temporary Foreign Workers’ issue, Dolan said, “We did get in front of [government] and we will keep fighting; we’re not going to give up. We’re too important an industry to be left behind.”
Dolan also thanked Donna Dooher, interim president and CEO of Restaurants Canada, who has stepped in temporarily while the Board of Directors looks to fill the shoes of former president Garth Whyte, who left Restaurants Canada several months ago.
Dolan’s last official duty was to introduce Methot as the incoming chair. Methot has been with Pizza Pizza for many years, watching it grow from 45 stores to more than 730 units. “I started off financing, buying and leasing restaurant spaces and now have responsibility for the complete operations of Pizza Pizza. This industry has given me so much; now it’s time to give back,” he said. Methot stressed the importance of continuing to fight for the issues that impact the industry. “Our industry deserves greater recognition. We’re the growth industry that never stops growing.”
