Federal GST holiday on restaurant meals offers temporary relief [Video]

Canadians dining out this holiday season will enjoy a temporary financial break as the federal government removes the 5 per cent GST on dine-in, takeout, and delivery meals from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15.

“Life has become very expensive, so if it helps around this time of year. I’m all for it,” said Alan Handel, a customer at Snowdon Deli.

Others said the money they save dining out will be spent at the restaurant, which is what the Quebec Restaurant Association is hoping for.

Martin Vézina, the association’s Public Affairs Vice-President, said the tax break is a breath of fresh air for the industry, as it gives clients more money to spend on items like dessert or a bottle of wine.

“What we are seeing in Quebec is not that people go less to restaurants. It’s that they spend less when they go to restaurants,” he said.

Tourism Minister Soraya …