Ontario's Ticket Resale Law Is Already in Hot Water
Ottawa music fans and sports enthusiasts who were counting on Ontario's new ticket resale legislation to keep concert and event prices in check are getting a rude awakening — the rollout appears to be off to a rocky start.
StubHub and SeatGeek, two of the largest ticket resale platforms operating in Canada, were added to Ontario's consumer beware list on June 10, after the province alleged both sites were continuing to allow sellers to list tickets above their original face value — a direct violation of the new resale rules.
What the Law Was Supposed to Do
Ontario's ticket resale legislation was introduced to crack down on the rampant scalping culture that has made attending live events increasingly unaffordable for everyday Ontarians. Anyone who has tried to snag tickets to a Senators game, an Ottawa Bluesfest show, or a major arena concert in the past few years knows the pain: face-value tickets sell out in minutes, then reappear on resale platforms at two, three, or even ten times the original price.
The law was meant to cap resale prices at face value, putting fans — not scalpers — first. It was broadly welcomed when announced, with advocates calling it a meaningful step toward making live entertainment accessible again.
The Alleged Violations
But within days of the law taking effect, provincial officials flagged StubHub and SeatGeek for allegedly continuing to facilitate above-face-value sales. Both platforms were added to the Ontario government's consumer beware list — a public registry designed to name businesses that have allegedly failed to comply with consumer protection rules.
Neither company immediately conceded wrongdoing, and the move has sparked a broader debate about whether the government gave resale platforms enough guidance and lead time to update their systems before enforcement began.
Critics of the rollout — including some in the ticketing industry — argue that the province fumbled the implementation, leaving platforms uncertain about compliance requirements and giving them insufficient time to adapt their technology and seller policies.
What It Means for Ottawa Fans
For Ottawans planning to attend events at venues like the Canadian Tire Centre, TD Place, or any of the city's summer festivals, the situation remains murky in the short term. While the law is technically in force, the dispute over compliance means enforcement is now playing out publicly — and it's unclear how quickly the platforms will bring their practices into line.
Consumers are advised to check whether a resale platform is on the consumer beware list before purchasing tickets, and to report suspected violations to the province. In the meantime, buying directly from official box offices or authorized primary sellers remains the safest way to avoid above-face-value pricing.
A Law Worth Fighting For
Despite the rocky start, consumer advocates are urging the provincial government to hold firm and follow through on enforcement rather than backing down under industry pressure. The intent of the legislation — to make live events affordable for regular people — is sound. The question now is whether Ontario has the regulatory muscle to make it stick.
For Ottawa's vibrant live events scene to truly benefit, the province will need to sort out the implementation chaos quickly. Summer concert season is already here.
Source: Global News Ottawa
