It’s a rare moment when paying taxes can put a smile on your face.

But it actually happens at a popular restaurant in Gatineau, Quebec. When the servers at piz’za-za Restaurant and Wine Bar bring the bill, keen-eyed patrons notice a difference.

Where it normally says GST and PST you’ll find the names Harper and Marois, along with exactly how much money their respective governments are making off your meal – 5% for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, 9.975% for Quebec Premier Pauline Marois.

“At least it lets us know who’s responsible for gouging us,” laughs one patron.

It’s not intended to be a political statement. It’s simply meant to give customers a chuckle at the end of their meal. “It’s just a funny thing, a funny way to explain to the client this is the GST and this is the PST,” explains piz’za-za General Manager Alexandre Le Blanc.

Le Blanc got the idea from a restaurant in France. He also does it on the bills at his neighbouring pub, aux 4 jeudis. He started doing it a few years ago when Jean Charest was the Premier of Quebec. He says changing the names of the politicians is “no problem” – good to know come the next Federal and Quebec elections.

Revenue Canada says there is no set way for merchants to include sales taxes on their bills, as long as they are included. If anyone has trouble making the connection between the government leaders and their taxes, piz’za-za also repeats the taxes in their more traditional forms at the bottom of the bill.

As another patron points out, “If we have to pay we like to know where it goes.”