Many things in Canada are heavily influenced by its much bigger neighbour to the south, but tipping isn’t one of them. It’s customary and expected unless you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received, but Canadians are generally less likely to tip at US levels.

About half of people in the Maple Leaf Nation habitually tip between 10-15%, and only about a quarter will give up to 20%. Much depends on the province you’re in because some have lower minimum wages than others. The province of Quebec is a clear outlier; tips there frequently top out at around 25%. However, even here, the local government has tabled a law to try and eliminate overtipping by requiring suggested charges to be calculated on the pre-tax element of a restaurant bill rather than the full amount.

A survey earlier this year by e-commerce software company Lightspeed Commerce suggested that Canadians – along with Belgians – are world leaders in wanting to eliminate tipping. The same study suggested they’re cutting back on tipping more than any other country, with 25% tipping less than they used to. More than half blamed inflation for their thriftiness.

How tipping began and why the rules are so different around the world