This week, Calgary city councillors voted unanimously to put a cap on the fees that delivery companies like SkipTheDishes and DoorDash charge to restaurants. The new 15 per cent cap comes just a week after Ontario implemented similar legislation provincewide. One can only hope that more will follow suit in the coming weeks.
The state of food insecurity in Northern Canada has been the cause of nationwide concern for some time now, but after the recent installation of a new Amazon pickup depot in Iqaluit, many are now expecting that to change.
Speaking of bolstering food security, the federal government recently announced a pledge of an additional $100 million toward its emergency food security fund. $30 million from the fund will be distributed to Indigenous communities, while the remaining sum will be spread throughout various local charitable organizations across Canada.
Here are six stories you might have missed in food news this week.
Calgary city council votes to cap fees for delivery apps
This week, Calgary city councillors voted unanimously in support of capping fees charged to restaurants by delivery apps like SkipTheDishes and DoorDash. According to numerous sources, delivery apps charge as much as 30 per cent per order, and the proposed legislation would cap the fee at 15 per cent.
“I don’t want to repeat the mistakes we made in ride sharing with Uber and so on, and I think getting in front of this for regulatory perspective makes a lot of sense,” said Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi.
Visit Global News for more.
Amazon opens pickup depot in Iqaluit
Amazon opened a new pickup depot in Iqaluit this week which, according to the multibillion-dollar company, will reduce delivery times from two to three weeks to three to five days.
While the news has sparked some reservations about what the addition of Amazon could mean for local businesses, the vast majority of responses seem to be highly positive with many asserting that the addition has the potential to dramatically reduce food insecurity in Nunavut.
Find out more from CBC News.
Federal government pledges $100 million to fight food insecurity
This week, in an effort to extend its support of food security during the pandemic, the Canadian government announced its plans to distribute $30 million in funds to Indigenous communities and roughly $65 million to local organizations across the country.
The emergency food security fund, which had already received a $100 million injection this past spring, will also go toward directly supporting Food Banks Canada, Breakfast Club of Canada, Community Food Centres Canada, Second Harvest, and the Salvation Army.
Find the full story at CTV News.
Pandemic continues to accelerate restaurant automation
Despite a relative decline in demand during the pre-pandemic era, restaurant-operated automated food services have seen a significantly rapid return to prominence over the last few months.
Although many experts believe that the demand for contactless automation will continue to grow, others have suggested that the need for human connection and social interaction will ensure that the restaurant experience will continue to reign supreme when it comes to eating out.
Head to Yahoo Finance for more.
Hello Fresh releases end of year stats
Meal delivery company HelloFresh recently revealed their end of year report depicting Canada’s most searched cuisines from 2020. By analyzing the country’s Google search tendencies, HelloFresh determined an array of interesting results, including the most searched cuisines by province, the most searched dishes from within each cuisine, and more.
Check out HelloFresh for the full report.
Alcohol delivery in P.E.I. will be permitted post-pandemic
The P.E.I. government announced this week that the temporary allowance of alcohol delivery that was enacted in March will remain intact permanently.
The P.E.I. Liquor Commission has stated that products must be sold at the prices it has approved, but says that a reasonable delivery fee is allowed. Several Island breweries and three liquor agency stores have already begun offering delivery services.
Get the full breakdown from CBC News.
