P.E.I. addresses regulatory issues for the restaurant and foodservice industry

Charlottetown – Prince Edward Island has been conducting a program called Project ART (Addressing Red Tape) Sector Roundtables with the goal of bringing industry and government together to identify, understand, and address unnecessary regulatory burdens, the P.E.I. government said in a news release.

Because of Project Art, restaurants can now renew and pay for food and liquor licences electronically, provide limited entertainment and enjoy reduced fees for a packaged sale licence.

“Our Government remains committed to working closely with industry to reduce red tape, align regulations with other jurisdictions, and ensure conditions are optimal for business success,” said Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald in the release. “We are pleased to work with the restaurant and foodservice industry on several initiatives, and we will continue to support small and medium sized enterprises, such as restaurants to promote economic growth on Prince Edward Island.”

Project ART called on Restaurants Canada (RC), and the PEI Restaurant and Foodservices Association (PEIRFSA) to submit barriers that members were experiencing when engaging with the provincial government. The province, Restaurants Canada, and the PEI Restaurant and Foodservices Association then identified three issues to be resolved within 60 calendar days.

“The Restaurant Sector Roundtable is a great example of how government and industry can collaborate to identify priorities, streamline processes and develop timely and feasible solutions to red tape,” said Luc Erjavec, vice-president, Atlantic, for Restaurants Canada. “I commend the Prince Edward Island government for their leadership on this initiative and look forward to seeing more regulatory burdens eliminated for this vital industry.”

Restaurants Canada applauded the P.E.I government’s move to reduce red tape and regulatory hurdles for the Island’s restaurants, bars and pubs. 

“This initiative is a good example of the strong working relationship between the restaurant industry and the P.E.I. government,” said Bill Allen, chair of the board for Restaurants Canada, in a news release from the association. “On a personal level, as a restaurant operator with establishments in a number of provinces including P.E.I., this will make it easy to run my business and serve my customers.”

“With 5,600 jobs on P.E.I., the restaurant industry is the province’s third-largest employer and provides more first-time jobs than any other industry,” Allen said. “A strong partnership between the government and industry will continue to grow jobs and economic activity throughout the Island.”