Wednesday October 15, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC Restaurants and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) yesterday connected with their members over concerns about the backlog of licensing applications, business opening delays and restocking the over 8,000 licensees, 600 private liquor stores and 190 LDB stores.
An online survey was made available for BCRFA members and community to provide input about the impact of the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) strike that is now in its seventh week.
BCGEU impact:
“We are in regular contact with government as to the damage and inconvenience this is causing,” said BCRFA President Ian Tostenson in an email to members on October 14.
He advised that BCRFA would be meeting today with BC Premier David Eby to see what can be done to protect the hospitality sector at this time.
BCGEU is achieving its goal of putting pressure on others in the economy (in this case the restaurant and foodservices sector) to in turn put pressure on the provincial government.
Extraordinary approach:
Two days ago, BCRFA had “advised government that they need to work with industry to immediately develop an extraordinary approach to addressing the backlog”. BCRFA says this would include:
- A “Nexus-style” approach to licensing approvals, and
- Unconventional short term measures to move inventory from private warehouses to licensees, private stores and LDB stores.
Get their own wine:
“We are promoting people to go out and bring their own wine via the corkage fee regulation in BC,” aid Tostenson on Tuesday, something he said would be discussed with Eby today.
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NEWS SECTIONS: BCGEU | RESTAURANTS & COFFEE SHOPS