# Is tipping in Canada considered an insult? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662 "2002-12-10T01:09:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/21 "2002-12-10T13:49:53Z")
You may use coins in tips in Canada without being insulting. No one seemed insulted by my tips. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/22 "2002-12-10T14:06:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mmmiiikkkeee \* > \*\*In Canada the minimum wage isn’t reduced that way, \*\* Absolutely wrong, M. In Ontario, the minimum wage for servers is reduced to $5.95, where it is $6.85 for any other job. Look it up. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/23 "2002-12-10T14:41:52Z")
Yes, tipping in Canada is considered an insult. You should never, ever, sneak up on a sleeping Canadian and push him over. Oh, you meant _that_ kind of tipping! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Nanook\_of\_the\_North\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Nanook\_of\_the\_North\_Shore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanook_of_the_North_Shore)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/24 "2002-12-10T14:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AWB \* > \*\*I do know that tipping casino dealers - as is common practice in Atlantic City and in Nevada - is _verboten_ in Canada. > > I tried tipping the woman Blackjack dealer whose table I’d been at all night in Montreal. She and everyone at the table gasped at my obvious attempt to “bribe” the house. She quickly passed the chip back to my side of the table. \*\* What part of Canada were you in? I was in a small BC town with a casino, and the blackjack dealers there had no problems whatsoever taking my tips. Nor did they have a problem taking the tips of anyone else at the table for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/25 "2002-12-10T15:20:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AWB \* > \*\*I tried tipping the woman Blackjack dealer whose table I’d been at all night in Montreal. \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nanook of the North Shore \* > \*\*What part of Canada were you in? I was in a small BC town with a casino, and the blackjack dealers there had no problems whatsoever taking my tips. Nor did they have a problem taking the tips of anyone else at the table for that matter. \*\* That’s a relativley unknown backwater in a province out east called ‘Quebec’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/26 "2002-12-10T15:33:20Z")
The casino thing seems to vary from province to province, which is consistent with the fact that provinces set their own gaming rules. Ontario casinos are okay with dealer tips; Quebec casinos aren’t. To be honest I can see Quebec’s point. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/27 "2002-12-10T15:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bare \* > \*\*That would explain why Canadians are famous here in the Northwest for not tipping. Not small tips, but none! \*\* Hm… Odd. Tipping is quite standard in Ontario. Possible explanation: I’ve had the tipping process almost thwarted in the U.S. on several occasions because the server didn’t bring me “tippable” change – if I have a $10 meal and pay with a $20, here in Toronto I usually get a $5 bill and a whack of change I can divvy up for the tip as I see fit. When I was doing a lot of photoshoots in rural PA , I’d use a $20 bill to pay for a $10 meal, and my change would be… a $10 bill. When you get U.S. cash at the bank for travel money, or cash travelers cheques, you get larger denominations. A lot of tourist get stuck for change and small bills, particularly at the beginning of a trip (especially if they lack the foresight to break a $20 into a fistful of $1s as soon as they cross the border). I’ve had similar problems in Mexico and Panama where people assume I’m American and must have American coin on me. Never had that problem in large U.S. cities though, just small towns. My SO and I hoard U.S. change and dollar bills so when we cross the border we already have smaller denominations and change for toll booths, tips, and vending machines. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/28 "2002-12-10T16:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > When I was doing a lot of photoshoots in rural PA , I’d use a $20 bill to pay for a $10 meal, and my change would be… a $10 bill. Good point. It’s less of a problem in NYC, etc., where the waitstaff are more savvy (bartenders, too). ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/29 "2002-12-10T19:06:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*Absolutely wrong, M. In Ontario, the minimum wage for servers is reduced to $5.95, where it is $6.85 for any other job. Look it up. \*\* Perhaps, but this is still far less of a reduction than occurs in the US. I believe the federal minimum wage in the US is something like $6.15, whereas for those in “tippable” professions, its $2.12 or thereabouts. Of course, each state can also set a minumum wage, but these are good guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![Fatwater\_Fewl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@Fatwater\_Fewl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatwater_Fewl)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/30 "2002-12-10T20:22:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bare \* > \*\* > So, is there a cultural difference between Eastern and Western Canada regarding tipping? \*\* Not that I know of – I’m a Maritimer, and I’ve lived right across Canada at various times – you tip wherever you are. The only thing more insulting (to any server I’ve known) than not leaving a tip is leaving pennies. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/31 "2002-12-10T21:13:02Z")
I think your informant was being facetious, probably refering to Canada’s general stinginess. We get a lot of Americans up here for the fishing and the stories of the huge appreciative tips towards service providers, particularly guides are rampant. One almost gets the sense that they think money is cheap. Just don’t hear about that kind of appreciation from our Canadian or European guests, ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/32 "2002-12-10T22:11:24Z")
The joke often told by hospitality workers in Buffalo goes like this … _What’s the difference between a Canadian and a canoe? The canoe tips!_ ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/33 "2002-12-11T00:14:59Z")
**Barbarian** and **Rickjay** , perhaps one of you could post a link to where minimum wage reductions for hospitality workers are set out for the provinces?? The closest thing I came up with were some old references on a proposed tip-differential program, which at the time was only in effect in Ontario and Quebec (with no details of course). Also one shouldn’t omit the possibility that some employees are paid less than law requires, but take it because they don’t know any better. I don’t have a single relative or friend who doesn’t have at least one story about getting screwed over by an employer, and most have several. Still, 90 cents less per hour is a far cry from the reductions of 60+% in the States, and minimum wage rules in Ontario are not thrown out the window soley for hospitality workers - according to this Ontario’s [employment standards act](http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/esa/esa_e/fs_covered_e.htm#chart) does not cover minimum wage for farm employees, veterinarians, teachers, students, real estate salesmen, live-in janitors, chiropractors, and so on. Oddly enough this government website says it _does_ cover hospitality workers… and therin lies my confusion 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/34 "2002-12-11T03:09:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\* Tipping a Canadian is an offense second only to the supreme insult of using the word “hullabaloo” in front of a Canadian, the consequences of which are too terrible to mention. \*\* Keep that kind of language in The Pit, eh ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/35 "2002-12-11T13:50:05Z")
While I was working at restaurants in Montreal, the waiters and waitresses had a lower starting wage than did the other, non-dealing-with-public employees. Whenever minimum wage went up it would be mentioned in the newspapers what the new rates were. This page may be slightly out of date, but shows what I mean. [http://www.retailcouncil.org/govrelations/quebec/minwages\_que.asp](http://www.retailcouncil.org/govrelations/quebec/minwages_que.asp) Here are the minimum wage rates for BC-- where you can see that most workers have the same rate (except for ‘new’ employees, who get $2 less) [http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/facshts/min-wage.htm](http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/facshts/min-wage.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Coffeeguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/958977/32.png) [@Coffeeguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coffeeguy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/36 "2002-12-11T15:50:34Z")
Seriously, could the moderators please ban or sternly warn people against the use of **“h\*llabaloo”** on this board. People have been kicked off in the past for saying much less, and I do not see why this should be any different. -Coffeeguy ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/37 "2002-12-14T03:07:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mmmiiikkkeee \* > **Barbarian and Rickjay, perhaps one of you could post a link to where minimum wage reductions for hospitality workers are set out for the provinces??** The minimum wage for servers who serve alcohol (meaning almost all restaurants, but not fast food joints) is set out as $5.95, where it is $6.85 in most other categories, according to the Employment Standards Act (2000). [http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/es/tablee.htm](http://www.gov.on.ca/LAB/es/tablee.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/38 "2002-12-14T03:14:39Z")
[QUOTE] “The only thing more insulting (to any server I’ve known) than not leaving a tip is leaving pennies.”[?QUOTE] Actually, it is more insulting to leave ten centavos in an inverted glass of water. This is done by putting the useless coin in a half full glass of water, covering the top with a piece of cardboard, quickly ionverting the ghlass and sliding the cardboard out. Read about this in the old _Sneaky Feats_ book. Can’t get the coin without making a mess. Class all the way! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662/39 "2002-12-14T06:52:20Z")
Tipping is _definately_ not an insult. I worked as a waitress for a bit and even with getting minimum wage ($5.90 here) I couldn’t make ends meet unless I worked an insane amount of hours. And as to the casino’s some of it is the provinces and some of it is the casino’s. Some provinces say that you cannot tip the dealers for fear of bribery, and some casino’s have the policy that tipping dealers is not allowed. The dealers are not allowed to accept tips. The waitresses on the other hand were allowed to. (I worked in a casino for a bit as well as a waitress… different job from above) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-tipping-in-canada-considered-an-insult/141662.md?page=1)