This province just launched new tipping laws and Canadians want them applied everywhere

If you've ever stared down a payment terminal at a cafe and wondered why you're being nudged to tip 20% on a $6 muffin, you're not alone.

Tipping in Canada has hit a fever pitch — but Quebec recently introduced new consumer protection laws aimed at addressing the issue.

With the new tipping laws under Quebec Bill 72 officially in effect, many Canadians are saying it's about time the rest of the country caught up.

Starting May 7, the province introduced new rules that force businesses to calculate suggested tips based on the pre-tax total — not the final amount after taxes. That means if your meal is $100 before tax, the tip suggestions will be calculated from that amount, not the $114.98 that includes the GST and QST (Quebec sales tax).

The law also requires that tip suggestions be presented in a neutral way — so no more "OK," "Great," "Amazing!" labels under different percentages.

This move is part of a larger push under Quebec Bill 72 to tighten up consumer protections. The bill also updates price accuracy rules and requires clearer food pricing at grocery stores. But it's the tipping changes that have sparked the biggest buzz online.

Reddit threads about the new rules have been brimming with praise — and a whole lot of envy — from Canadians in other provinces.

"You've got to appreciate the stronger consumer protections in Quebec," said one Redditor from Ontario, with others chiming in to say things like "Make this a thing in Canada!" and "This needs to be brought in to all provinces."

While the difference between a pre-tax and post-tax tip calculation might be relatively small, it's not just the math that people are reacting to. Many Canadians are pushing back against what they see as aggressive tipping culture spreading across the country.

Comments ranged from stories about terminals automatically jumping to 18% minimum tips, to debates about whether tipping should even be a thing at all.

Some commenters even suggested the new laws didn't go far enough to combat tipping culture.

While some critics argue these new rules could reduce earnings for servers, others say it could push employers to pay servers a higher wage.

Quebec is currently the only province that has a lower minimum wage for tip-earning employees. While the province's general minimum wage is $16.10 per hour, tipped employees can be paid as low as $12.90 as their base wage.

Still, the bigger issue for many Canadians is the overall pressure to tip — especially when it's not clear who’s getting the money or whether it's even necessary.

With tipping culture under a microscope and public support growing for rules like Quebec's, it's no surprise the rest of Canada is watching closely.

Whether other provinces will follow Quebec's lead remains to be seen — but for now, at least one province is making it easier to tip without the guilt trip.

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