Restaurants support food trucks in Montreal, provided level playing field

MONTREAL, Nov. 21, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) will appear today before the Commission permanente du développement économique et urbain et de l'habitation to support food trucks in Montreal, provided they face the same rules and regulations as other restaurants.

"The restaurant industry cannot go against the growth of its own sector," said Jean Lefebvre, CRFA's Vice President, Quebec. "However, a food truck must be subject to the same conditions as a corner street restaurant."

CRFA notes that food truck regulation should cover areas such as food safety, food handler training, hygiene, odour, fiscal evasion, security and garbage - same as other restaurants.

Montreal will have to determine if food trucks should be stationary or mobile. "We are recommending that food trucks maintain a minimum distance of 100 metres from any existing restaurant," said Lefebvre. "For example, the Ville-Marie borough already has numerous restaurants which can't afford to have roving food trucks park in front of them." 

If Montreal's citizens want food trucks, CRFA is encouraging a pilot project first to allow proper analysis in a controlled environment. Food truck pilot projects are already underway in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa to study their impact and popularity. Montreal itself has done some testing during special events and festivals and also in parks.

CRFA is one of Canada's largest business associations, with more than 30,000 members representing restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and other foodservice providers. Canada's $65-billion restaurant industry employs more than 1.1 million people in communities across the country. CRFA has over 5,000 members in Quebec through its subsidiary, the Council of Chain Restaurants - Quebec (CCRQ), as well as independent restaurant members.

SOURCE: Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

Jean Lefebvre, 514 448-2154 or [email protected]; Prasanthi Vasanthakumar, CRFA Communications, 1-800-387-5649, ext. 4254 or [email protected].