Tipping regulations: Option consommateurs reiterates the new provisions and proposes tightening the law

Since last May in Quebec, tip suggestions on payment terminals must be calculated based on the pre-tax amount. These suggestions must not contain any elements other than predetermined amounts and the option to customize the tip, and must be presented in a uniform manner, without encouraging consumers to choose one over another.

Although many restaurants and merchants comply with these new legal provisions, Option consommateurs identified a small number of establishments in October and November that still do not comply.

This merchant's tip options contain persuasive messages (“Good,” “Great,” “Wow!”), a practice prohibited by the new law that limits the elements that can be displayed in tip suggestions (photo taken on November 5, 2025).

In addition to reminding Quebec merchants of their new obligations regarding tips, Option consommateurs recommends in a report released today that regulations be tightened to limit the types of establishments that can actively solicit tips from consumers.
The government should also regulate suggested tip percentages to prevent merchants from displaying rates higher than 15%.

This merchant's tip options are all higher than the usual 15% tip rate. This practice is not prohibited by the new Quebec regulations (photo taken on October 16, 2025).

It should also require businesses that solicit tips to display a notice indicating to whom the tip paid by the consumer is given and specifying that it is entirely discretionary. All these measures should be extended to the entire country.

“The way tips are requested must be transparent and respect the consumer's freedom of choice. The law should ensure that consumers are not pressured to tip in establishments where it is not customary to do so, or to tip more than they would have liked,” says Alexandre Plourde, lawyer and analyst at Option consommateurs.

The study “Good,” “Great,” or “Best Service Ever”? Consumers and Tipping Regulations in Canada was conducted with funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative.

About Option consommateurs
Option consommateurs is a non-profit association whose mission is to defend the rights and interests of consumers. It focuses on issues related to personal finance, business practices, financial services, privacy, energy, debt, and access to justice.
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For more information:
Marie-Ève Dumont, Director of Communications
514-777-6133
medumont@option-consommateurs.org