Canadian Restaurant Industry News from the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association http://www.crfa.ca Chef Mitchell Lamb, corporate chef for Stone House in Burlington and Lake House in Vineland, won round eight of the new Discovered Culinary Competition, held last night at Nella Cucina in Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_mitchell_lamb_wins_round_eight_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_mitchell_lamb_wins_round_eight_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp Canada's restaurant industry grew by 28,000 jobs in 2011, making it the country's third-largest job creator. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/restaurant_industry_one_of_the_top_job_creators_in_2011.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/restaurant_industry_one_of_the_top_job_creators_in_2011.asp CRFA is partnering with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to survey restaurant and foodservice companies about their progress in reducing sodium in Canadians’ diets. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/survey_whats_your_progress_in_sodium_reduction.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/survey_whats_your_progress_in_sodium_reduction.asp Nova Scotia’s minimum wage will increase on April 1, 2012. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/nova_scotias_minimum_wage_to_rise_april_1.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/nova_scotias_minimum_wage_to_rise_april_1.asp After years of being lobbied by CRFA and other business organizations, the Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador (WHSCC) has introduced an enhanced deferred payment plan which allows all employers to spread worker compensation assessment premium payments throughout the year, interest-free. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/new_whscc_payment_plan_reduces_costs_for_restaurateurs.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/new_whscc_payment_plan_reduces_costs_for_restaurateurs.asp CRFA action has made it easier for Nova Scotia businesses to apply for a liquor licence. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/a_simpler_liquor_licence_process_in_nova_scotia.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/a_simpler_liquor_licence_process_in_nova_scotia.asp British Columbia’s restaurant owners and operators will be seeking new ideas, products and services at the 2012 BC Foodservice Expo starting this weekend. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/bc_foodservice_expo_opens_on_sunday.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/bc_foodservice_expo_opens_on_sunday.asp Chef George Tyminski, sous chef at Annona restaurant at the Park Hyatt in Toronto, won round seven of the new Discovered Culinary Competition, held last night at Nella Cucina in Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_george_tyminski_wins_round_seven_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_george_tyminski_wins_round_seven_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp The woks will be steaming and the fish sauce flying when 10 local chefs compete to be crowned the first ever BC Chinese Chef of the Year. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/ten_local_chefs_to_compete_for_bc_chinese_chef_of_the_year_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/ten_local_chefs_to_compete_for_bc_chinese_chef_of_the_year_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp Chef Glenn Sheridan of Le Bon Marche in North Bay won round six of the new Discovered Culinary Competition, held last night at Nella Cucina in Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_glenn_sheridan_wins_round_six_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_glenn_sheridan_wins_round_six_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp The Council of Chain Restaurants of Quebec (CCRQ) and the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) will appear before the National Assembly’s Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Energy and Natural Resources today, calling for the government to address problems with supply management in the chicken and dairy sectors as they develop a new agri-food policy for the province. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/quebec_restaurants_demand_new_agri-food_policy_addresses_supply_management_concerns.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/quebec_restaurants_demand_new_agri-food_policy_addresses_supply_management_concerns.asp Just before Christmas, Labour Minister Lise Thériault announced the following minimum wage increases for May 1, 2012. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/quebecs_minimum_wage_to_rise_may_1.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/quebecs_minimum_wage_to_rise_may_1.asp In December, CRFA met with the Finance Minister’s cabinet ahead of the upcoming provincial budget. CRFA asked government to address these issues. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/payroll_taxes_liquor_in_quebec_pre-budget_consultations.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/payroll_taxes_liquor_in_quebec_pre-budget_consultations.asp On Dec. 21, CRFA met with Saskatchewan’s Minster of Justice Don Morgan to discuss the province’s intentions on administrative penalties for drivers with blood alcohol content (BAC) levels between 0.04 and 0.08. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/is_saskatchewan_next_tougher_bac_penalties_on_the_table.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2012/is_saskatchewan_next_tougher_bac_penalties_on_the_table.asp The stoves will be hot and the competition even hotter, when 12 professional chefs from across BC participate in the annual Roasted competition, held at the BC Foodservice Expo, taking place Jan. 29-30 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/roasted_chefs_ready_to_compete_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/roasted_chefs_ready_to_compete_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp Chef Alejandro Winzer of Ristorante Verdicchio in Sudbury won round five of the new Discovered Culinary Competition, held last night at Nella Cucina in Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_alejandro_winzer_wins_round_five_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/chef_alejandro_winzer_wins_round_five_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp Look out taste buds - the second annual Trends Breakfast at the BC Foodservice Expo promises a buffet of flavours and menu-changing ideas. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/trends_breakfast_returns_for_second_year_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/trends_breakfast_returns_for_second_year_at_bc_foodservice_expo.asp Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada will be the keynote speaker at the new Breakfast with Champions event at the CRFA Show, March 6 from 8 – 10 a.m. at the Direct Energy Centre, Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/sportscaster_ron_maclean_to_join_restaurant_industry_leaders_at_crfa_shows_breakfast_with_champions.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/sportscaster_ron_maclean_to_join_restaurant_industry_leaders_at_crfa_shows_breakfast_with_champions.asp The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) is pleased to announce that the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) will be partnering with the CRFA Show again during their annual conference. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/hotel_association_of_canada_partners_with_2012_crfa_show.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2012/hotel_association_of_canada_partners_with_2012_crfa_show.asp The Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) has proposed a 4.1 per cent premium increase for restaurant and foodservice operators in the province. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2011/crfa_challenges_proposed_wcb_rate_increase_in_saskatchewan.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2011/crfa_challenges_proposed_wcb_rate_increase_in_saskatchewan.asp Following CRFA meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture, MAPAQ has followed our suggestion to increase food safety reporting content on its website (as in Nova Scotia), instead of using Toronto’s red-yellow-green food safety reporting system. http://www.crfa.ca/news/2011/quebec_simplifies_food_safety_reporting.asp http://www.crfa.ca/news/2011/quebec_simplifies_food_safety_reporting.asp Chef John Koplimae of the Drake Hotel in Toronto won round four of the new Discovered Culinary Competition, held last night at Nella Cucina in Toronto. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2011/chef_john_koplimae_wins_round_four_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2011/chef_john_koplimae_wins_round_four_of_discovered_culinary_competition.asp The annual SAXibition (Super Accommodation eXhibition) trade show of the Ontario Accommodation Association (OAA) is breaking new ground for 2012 by partnering with the CRFA Show, Canada's largest hospitality event. http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2011/ontario_accommodation_association_to_partner_with_the_2012_crfa_show.asp http://www.crfa.ca/aboutcrfa/newsroom/2011/ontario_accommodation_association_to_partner_with_the_2012_crfa_show.asp