Ottawa music lovers and sports fans know the frustration all too well: you miss the on-sale window for a show at Canadian Tire Centre or TD Place, and suddenly the same ticket is listed on StubHub for three times the price. That could soon change.
Ontario Moving to Kill Scalper Markups
The Ontario government has announced plans to outlaw ticket resales above the original purchase price, according to a news release from the province. The move is a significant reversal, back in 2019, Ontario actually removed part of its anti-scalping legislation, opening the door to the wild west of resale markets that fans have been navigating ever since.
If the new rules pass, it would mean that a $150 ticket to see a show at the NAC or a Senators game at Canadian Tire Centre could only be resold for $150, no more $400 "convenience" listings on third-party platforms.
Why This Matters for Ottawa Residents
For Ottawa, this is particularly meaningful. The city punches above its weight when it comes to live entertainment, from major concerts at Canadian Tire Centre to theatre at the National Arts Centre, festivals along the Rideau Canal, and Ottawa Senators games that regularly sell out. But scalpers have long made it difficult for everyday fans to attend at reasonable prices.
Parents trying to take their kids to a Senators playoff game, couples planning a date night at a touring Broadway show, or young people trying to catch their favourite artist have all been squeezed by secondary market markups that can easily double or triple the face value of a ticket.
A Reversal Years in the Making
Ontario's 2019 decision to roll back anti-scalping rules was controversial from the start. Critics at the time argued it would harm consumers and primarily benefit professional resellers and bots that scoop up tickets the moment they go on sale. The backlash from fans, artists, and venues never fully went away, and now, years later, the province appears to be listening.
Several other Canadian provinces and jurisdictions around the world have moved in this direction, and consumer advocates have long pushed for stronger protections.
What Comes Next
Details on enforcement: how the province plans to police resale platforms and what penalties scalpers might face, haven't been fully spelled out yet. That will be the key question as the legislation moves forward. Platforms like StubHub and Ticketmaster's own resale arm operate across provincial borders, which can complicate enforcement.
But for Ottawa fans, even the announcement is a hopeful sign. If the rules hold up, getting a ticket to your favourite event in this city might start feeling a little less like winning the lottery.
Source: CBC Ottawa / CBC News
