Ontario Proposes Ticket Resale Price Cap

Ontario's provincial government announced plans Friday to amend the Ticket Sales Act of 2017, proposing to make it illegal to resell tickets for concerts, sports, cultural events and other live gatherings at prices exceeding their original cost, including fees, service charges and taxes. The measure, set for introduction in the coming days as the legislature resumes after a 14-week break, aims to shield consumers from price gouging by professional resellers.

Premier Doug Ford highlighted the initiative on social media, stating, "We're putting ticket scalpers on notice. Your days of ripping people off are done." The proposal addresses complaints from fans who faced inflated prices during last year's Toronto Blue Jays World Series run, when tickets sold out quickly and resold for hundreds or thousands more than face value. "People shouldn't be gouged, and that's what's happening right now, no matter if it's the World Series or a concert," Ford said in October.

Stephen Crawford, minister of public and business service delivery and procurement, emphasized the consumer protections in a statement. "We are taking action to help ensure Ontario fans have access to fair resale prices and...