Current Advocacy

Access, knowledge and results are the foundation of ORHMA's government relations activities. ORHMA represents the industry's interests at all levels of government. Through our specialized in-house government relations experts, our provincial Board of Directors and our local Regional Boards, the Association provides pertinent and timely advice on industry-specific issues to politicians across the province. We continue to remain diligent in assisting our members and Ontario's hospitality industry with enquiries while remaining on the frontlines advocating for our sector.

ORHMA’s Government Relations represents hospitality interests and works with Ontario and Municipal governments across the province on issues such as taxation, business regulation, beverage alcohol, labour issues, public health, tourism and municipal by-laws. We advocate all levels of government for policies that favour the overall outlook of Ontario’s hospitality.

The list below offers you a glimpse of our recommendations to the Provincial government. We encourage you to forward inquiries and comments to [email protected].

Summary of Recommendations: General Overview

A Few of ORHMA's WINS

• The LCBO Takes Necessary Actions to Increase the Wholesale Discount for Hospitality Operators
  • ORHMA has been actively advocating for the betterment of the hospitality industry, and we are pleased to share a significant step forward. The LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) has taken the necessary actions to increase the wholesale discount for hospitality operators. The discount has been raised from 10% to 15%, which will provide much-needed financial relief and support to Ontario's restaurants, bars, and other hospitality businesses.

 

• Government of Canada Announces Reduced Credit Card Transaction Fees
  • In our consultations with the government, ORHMA called for further reductions in interchange fees to 1.0% for a five-year period, along with the elimination of fees on the HST-GST portion of transactions, which we believe is necessary for supporting businesses on their path to recovery. Starting October 19, 2024, more than 90% of small businesses will benefit from lowered credit card interchange fees, potentially saving them about $1 billion over five years.

 

• Federal Alcohol Excise Tax Capped at 2% for Two More Years
  • Minister of Finance Freeland announced this past weekend that the federal excise tax will be frozen to 2% for two years. This is welcoming news to hospitality licensees and the brewers industry. ORHMA and industry collaborators have challenged the rate of inflation potential hike of 4.7%. These times call for governments to reduce costs, not to add struggle in the economic climate.

 

• Ontario Stopping Scheduled Beer Tax Increase
  • The Minister of Finance has confirmed deferral of the scheduled March 1 annual basic beer tax increase for both 2024 and 2025. ORHMA in collaboration with Beer Canada, RC and TIAO have been advocating for this freeze and applauds this decision. Thank you to Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy for listening to us.

 

• Favourable Immigration Policies
  • ORHMA has been a keen advocator in favour of hospitality-friendly immigration policies.
  • ORHMA worked and supports the Hotel Association of Canada’s hard immigration work including participating in “knocking on doors” at Parliament Hill and speaking to politicians.
  • “Cooks” are now realigned as skilled positions enabling qualified foreign workers and International students to have an efficient work path in Ontario through the Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) and the federal express streams. ORHMA has been active on this and applauds its success.

 

• Short-Term Rental Accommodations
  • ORHMA has been active in advocating for short-term rental frameworks in many Ontario cities including the City of Toronto. ORHMA has participated in several consultations across the province including Norfolk County, Brantford, Windsor, Lambton Shorts, Brampton, Lakeshore, St. Catharine's, Oshawa, Hamilton, and Vaughan.

 

• Beverage Alcohol Pricing
  • ORHMA persistently urged the government to consider a price reduction for beverage alcohol products purchased through the LCBO as a lifeline during the pandemic. As a result, licensees saw a savings of 20% (includes HST) in comparison to retail prices effective January 1, 2022. This is a game changer and major WIN for ORHMA and the hospitality industry.

 

• Beverage Alcohol with Take-Out & Delivery
  • Following the closure of indoor dining, ORHMA immediately urged the government to permit the sale of beverage alcohol with take-out and delivery orders to support businesses and an initiative that has been made permanent.

 

• Patio Extension and Approval Time
  • ORHMA has been a key participant in the temporary expansion of outdoor patios and continued discussions to successfully make the expansion permanent.
  • ORHMA supported the motion to speed up Patio Approvals for the City of Toronto's local businesses. The proposed changes significantly reduced the number of objections needed before a patio application is refused, from just two, to 25% of those who receive notice letters. This change streamlined the approval process, while still allowing for necessary reviews of more contentious locations.

 

• WSIB Rate Reduction
  • The average premium rate for Ontario hospitality businesses has been the lowest in more than 20 years. Hospitality averaged $1.02 in 2022 which dropped to $1.00 in 2023, $0.95 in 2024, and currently $0.90 in 2025. Furthermore, legislation introduced mandates WSIB surplus funds to flow back to businesses. ORHMA has been a founding member of the business coalition that is engaged with WSIB’s leadership in bringing business support such as this.

 

• Global Adjustment – Reduction in Energy Costs
  • A portion of renewable energy costs are now funded by the province reducing the pressures brought by the ill-conceived Global Adjustment (GA). GA has been a priority issue for ORHMA.

 

• Property Tax
  • ORHMA has been actively pushing for property tax reductions, which is a hot advocacy item on our agenda. ORHMA actively participated in reducing the Business Education Tax (BET) a component of Property Tax. This tax reduction reduced all high BET rates to a rate of 0.88 percent. This represents a reduction of an average of 30 percent for the many businesses that were subject to the highest BET rate in the province.

 

• Menu & Package Labelling

ORHMA advocated for the following on behalf of industry:

• posting of calories only
• exempt the sodium posting requirement
• applicable to standard menu items only and not limited time items
• include: grocers, convenience stores, movie theatres to ensure fairness for industry
• exemption for independent operators
• a threshold requirement of 20 or more restaurants
• provincial policy to supersede any municipal bylaws
• exempt hotels
• exempt beverage alcohol from posting calories

 

• Music Tariffs
• ORHMA has been an active advocate on behalf of businesses for a simplified way of adhering to legal requirements of playing music. With Entandem, retailers, restaurants, nightclubs, fitness clubs and myriad other organizations that use music will be able to complete their legally-required licenses in a single transaction.