“We applaud the provincial and federal governments for the progress they have made on internal trade over the past year, but food products continue to be excluded from interprovincial agreements. When food costs rise faster than other prices, restaurants have to contend with a higher cost of doing business and lower customer demand, which is leading many to raise menu prices, cut shifts or hours of operation, or even consider closing,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada.