4,000 Fewer Restaurants: Dr. Sylvain Charlebois on Canada's Food Service Divide

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift · May 8, 2026 · 9m

Restaurant closures in Canada are happening faster than forecast. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois projected a drop from 89,000 to 85,000 restaurants in 2026 and says the numbers coming from the sector confirm it is already underway.

The shift is driven by price sensitivity. A burger and fries at a quick service restaurant now runs around $20. The average household used to put 40 percent of its food budget toward restaurants. That number is now 36 percent. People are not stopping eating out, but they are stretching the dollar further and skipping the expensive wine and entrees when they do go.

The…