Ontario is moving to crack down on ticket scalping with proposed legislation that would cap resale prices at the original purchase cost.
The province announced plans to amend the Ticket Sales Act, 2017, making it illegal to resell tickets for concerts, sporting events and other live experiences at a higher price than what was originally paid, including fees and taxes. The move is aimed at protecting consumers from professional resellers who often drive up prices and limit access for everyday fans.
Officials say the proposed changes would help ensure more Ontarians can attend live events without facing inflated resale costs.
In addition to the price cap, the province is also proposing stronger consumer protections, including enhanced safeguards against fake tickets and new tools to address unfair service charges during the purchasing process. The rules would apply broadly to anyone reselling tickets, including individuals and online platforms.
The government says it will also consult on potential penalties for violations, with current fines for some offences reaching up to $10,000 (which coincidentally would almost buy you a pair of resale tickets for the Vancouver Taylor Swift Eras Tour that had an average price of $5,010 per ticket according to SeatPick.com).
If passed, the new measures would apply to all future ticket resales in Ontario.
The announcement comes ahead of the province’s 2026 budget and reflects ongoing concerns about affordability and fairness in the live event marketplace.
Officials say the goal is to create a more transparent and accessible system for fans, while reducing the impact of large scale ticket reselling operations that can dominate the secondary market.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
