Results: Eat Free On Canada Day -- With One Small Catch

If you live in Ontario, chances are you have been to or heard of the Mandarin Buffet, the extensive (make that huge) buffet that serves not only Chinese food, but just about every food you can imagine. For Canada Day, Mandarin is offering their buffet meal absolutely free at all 29 locations -- with one small catch: you have to be a Canadian citizen (proof required, such as Passport or Citizenship card). And while you can expect the likes of prime rib roast, pizza, crab legs, sushi, chicken balls, noodles, poutine (at least for Canada Day) and desserts as far as the eye can see, you can also expect a long line up. A few years ago, the restaurant spent about $500,000 on free meals on Canada Day, and even police officers were needed to control the crowd. Have you ever eaten at a Mandarin buffet?

With an offer of free food, it seems inevitable it will come with a side order of cries of discrimination. Many are taking to Twitter and social media saying this is not what Canada is all about, and that having to give proof of Canadian citizenship is insulting and definitely un-Canadian. Others are saying this is an insult to the immigrants and students who are here, and not Canadian citizens, not to mention the many visitors to the country who may want to go there. Do you think this is a fair policy?

This offer of free food for Canadian citizens has been something the Mandarin chain has been doing since Canada Day 2009, but not every year. It was started by the founders of the Mandarin, who immigrated to Canada from China, over thirty years ago to start a small à la carte restaurant in Brampton in 1979. The Chiu family was so grateful for the wonderful country they love and live in, and wanted to give back to Canada, so they started the offer of free meals on Canada Day. THey cite the day they became Canadian citizens as the best day of their lives. They also never moved their flagship restaurant out of Brampton, and it remains their biggest and busiest restaurant. Do you think the offer of free meals for Canadian citizens makes more sense knowing their back story?