SkipTheDishes Adds $0.99 Fee in Response to B.C.’s Cap on Restaurant Fees

In response to British Columbia’s cap on restaurant fees to help restaurants hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, food delivery company SkipTheDishes has started adding a temporary $0.99 “B.C. Fee” onto all orders within the province (via Global News).

The B.C. government capped the amount delivery services can charge restaurants at 15% for three months starting Dec. 27. The delivery fee cap was an election promise from both the governing BC NDP and opposition BC Liberals in the 2020 provincial election.

A spokesperson for SkipTheDishes said the fee was a direct result of the province’s regulation “to ensure that there is no impact to the service and support we’re able to provide all our stakeholders while the order is in effect.”

“We want to be transparent with our customers and make it clear why they are seeing this fee while the order is in place.” 

“While we agree that government support for restaurants is needed, we feel the way this legislation is arranged–imposing commission caps across the province to all restaurants, regardless of size or the impact restrictions have had on their business–is no the most effective way to support the industry,” it said.

SkipTheDishes says it has supported restaurants throughout the pandemic with $43 million in commission rebates and “order-driving initiatives.”