TORONTO — “We’re all in the game together,” said Michael Smith, celebrity chef and keynote speaker at this week’s Culinary Tourism Summit, organized by the Ontario Tourism Culinary Association and held at the MaRS building in Toronto.

Addressing more than 250 guests attending the third annual conference, Smith spoke of the need to better target today’s travellers by promoting Canada’s bounty of products and regional experiences.

“I’m a culinary tourist at heart,” said the chef. “As consumers we’ve become so busy in our lives we’ve convinced ourselves it’s important to be busy.” As a result, we may talk about food more, we may be publishing more cookbooks and watching more food media, but “none of us is cooking.” Yet, said Smith, food is fundamental to our lives. “It’s the root core of our very souls,” he said, pointing to the age-old tradition of gathering, preparing and sharing food. “When we do that, we’re in balance with ourselves. That’s why we get a vicarious thrill watching food shows; we crave that connection.”

TORONTO — The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) has appointed Ron Reaman to the role of vice-president, Ontario.

Reaman was CRFA’s vice-president of Federal Government Affairs for five years, during which time he was a member of the Health Canada-led, multi-stakeholder Sodium Working Group.

“Ron is recognized and respected for his national policy work, which he will be able to leverage and bring considerable insight to Canada’s largest province,” says CRFA president and CEO, Garth Whyte. “I am very pleased that he has agreed to take on the challenge of leading CRFA in Ontario and am confident he will continue to grow our presence as a partner in Ontario’s success.”

TORONTO — A bill that would prohibit Ontario restaurant employers from taking any portion of an employee’s tips or other gratuities recently passed its second reading in the Ontario Legislature.

Bill 144, Protecting Employees’ Tips Act 2010 received verbal support from members of all three political parties, despite the fact that it was proposed by NDP MPP Michael Prue as a private member’s bill amending the Employment Standards Act, 2000.

The bill would not affect servers sharing a portion of their tips and other gratuities with fellow workers who assist them, such as busboys and bartenders.