Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario government announced that it is proposing new amendments to the Ticket Sales Act to outlaw the resale of tickets for more than their original purchase price. Under the proposed legislation, it would be illegal to list or sell tickets for concerts, sports, and other live events at any markup. The “original cost” is defined as the all-in price initially paid to the primary seller, including all service fees, processing charges, and applicable taxes.
Premier Doug Ford, who announced the move on social media, stated that the province is putting “scalpers on notice,” asserting that the days of “ripping people off” are over. The decision follows a string of high-profile incidents in Toronto where fans were priced out of major events, most notably during the Blue Jays’ World Series run last year and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. In some instances, standing-room-only tickets for the World Series at Rogers Centre were being listed on secondary markets for nearly $2,000, while prime seats reached tens of thousands of dollars.
The proposal marks a significant policy reversal for the Ford government. In 2019, shortly after taking office, the Progressive Conservatives scrapped a similar provision introduced by the previous Liberal government that would have capped resale prices at 50% above face value. At the time, the government called such caps “unenforceable.” However, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Stephen Crawford now emphasizes that the current level of price gouging has become unsustainable for Ontario families. In addition to the price cap, the government is looking to strengthen “validity guarantee requirements” to protect consumers from fake tickets and is eyeing administrative penalties of up to $10,000 for businesses that violate the rules.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions from the industry. Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, expressed support for the measure, stating it favors transparent ticketing and curbing exploitative practices. Conversely, secondary marketplace SeatGeek warned that price controls could drive the resale market “underground” into informal channels where consumers have no legal recourse or protection from fraud. The legislation is expected to be formally introduced in the coming days and will be a key component of the provincial budget scheduled for release on March 26.
