Business is down by an average of 10 per cent compared to the same time last year, according to a survey of 802 British Columbia eateries by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA).
The new Harmonized Sales Tax is to blame, says CRFA vice-president Mark von Schellwitz.
He wants the provincial government to make it more palatable.
“Tax credits and wholesale liquor discounts would help, or investing in a marketing campaign,” Schellwitz said.
The B.C. government, on its website, claims the HST will reduce some restaurant’s operating costs.
