The B.C. government is speaking out against Skip The Dishes after the food courier company added a temporary $0.99 “B.C. Fee” to all orders within the province.
“I’m extremely disappointed in this decision by Skip The Dishes,” said Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon on Thursday. “It was our objective to ensure that restaurants weren’t getting exploited during the pandemic. That’s why we put the order in place.”
In late December, the province enacted a temporary 15-per-cent cap on the amount of fees that delivery services can charge restaurants in a bid to help the industry amid COVID-19.
This week, the company added a temporary $0.99 fee as a direct response “to ensure that there is no impact to the service and support we’re able to provide all our stakeholders.”
Kahlon said the Solicitor General’s office would seek legal advice on further action.
The delivery-fee cap was an election promise for both the BC NDP and BC Liberals during October’s election campaign.
Skip The Dishes has said it’s supported restaurants with $43 million in commission rebates and “order-driving initiatives” during the pandemic, while restaurant owners have protested delivery fees of up to 30 per cent.
– with files from Simon Little