B.C. restaurants facing increasing pressure from tariffs
Posted September 16, 2026 7:50 am.
Some restaurants in British Columbia are having to raise prices as food, labour, and other operating costs climb. Now, a new industry report suggests tariffs and supply chain disruptions could add another layer of pressure.
Cameron Bogue, the owner of Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions, says it’s been a challenging year, which has become even more challenging amid the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S.
“It’s a tough position for hospitality to be in,” Bogue said. “It’s a tough position for anyone in a resale market. We want to stay in business, and we want to provide value to our guests.”
EconoLease’s 2026 Hospitality Operator Report suggests a quarter of B.C. restaurants cite tariffs as a major threat to their businesses. The report says 90 per cent of operators in this province have raised menu prices.
And more than half plan to raise them again next year, as many restaurant owners are unsure if supply costs will ever stabilize.
“Costs of goods have been constantly going up, and tariffs are not helping that; any small and large business operators are seeing that, from hospitality to retail,” he said.
“It’s the reality. Costs are going up and salaries are not coinciding with that, so as an operator I have to come up with creative ways to still offer value to our guests.”
The restaurant’s general manager, Clayton Thornber, says they are consciously sourcing Canadian products, such as high quality meat from local suppliers, even though it may not be the most cost-effective option.
“Just to make sure we are buying good ingredients, supporting the Canadian economy,” Thornber said.
“Guests are discerning. They are paying attention to what they are ingesting and what they are paying, so we want to make sure we are buying the right ingredients to support that as well.”
With a growing focus on Canadian markets, experts are waiting to see if Canadian suppliers can keep up.
“It is a supply and demand market,” said Tyrone Ho, president of EconoLease Canada.
“I think we would all be purchasing more Canadian goods if there was ample supply, so definitely there would be additional cost pressure.”
For now, Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions is banking on customer loyalty to stay afloat.
“If you want to be a restaurant and if you want it to continue to exist, even with the rising costs, people coming through the door and supporting that restaurant, it will continue to exist,” Bogue said.
“Margins are tighter, but we are still making it work.”
