Tipping point: Quebec consumer rights bill to regulate how merchants can ask for tips [Video]

Quebec wants to curb excessive tipping as part of new legislation the government says will help people save money.

Simon Jolin-Barrette, minister responsible for consumer protection, tabled a bill Thursday that would regulate how merchants calculate suggested tips and how grocery stores display the price of food.

“Many families in Quebec are under pressure due to inflation, and we know that in this context, every dollar counts,” Jolin-Barrette told reporters during a press conference in Quebec City. “With the reforms we’re proposing today, we want to better protect pocketbooks and the spending power of Quebecers.”

The bill would force businesses to calculate tips based on the price before tax. That means on a restaurant bill of $100, suggested tips would be calculated as a percentage of $100, not the after-tax total of $114.98. Jolin-Barrette said there’s “growing pressure around tips,” and people often end up paying more than they intend.

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