Scalpers Just Got Crushed in Ontario and Other Provinces Are Watching

Ontario just pulled the plug on predatory ticket scalping. On Friday, a new law officially passed as part of the 2026 budget that makes it illegal to resell tickets for more than their original face value.

Whether it is a concert or a massive sporting event, the days of seeing 400% markups on platforms like Ticketmaster and StubHub are technically numbered in the province.

The new rules are pretty straightforward: you cannot list a ticket for more than the “all-in” price. That includes the base cost plus all those annoying service fees and taxes you paid the first time around. To keep everyone honest, resellers now have to show proof of what they originally paid so buyers know they aren’t getting ripped off.

Scalpers are Going to Get Fines

The province isn’t just asking nicely. Companies that keep trying to flip tickets for a massive profit are looking at some heavy penalties. Fines start at $3,000 for a first offence, but if a business keeps breaking the rules, that number can skyrocket to $250,000.

Ticketmaster is already moving to comply, scrubbing its Ontario listings of any tickets priced above face value. This crackdown is a long time coming after fans were gouged during Taylor Swift’s Eras tour and the wild 2025 World Series between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers.

It is Time for B.C. to Step Up

While Ontario fans are celebrating, those of us in British Columbia are still stuck in the Wild West of ticket pricing. If you’ve tried to buy seats at Rogers Arena or BC Place lately, you know the pain of seeing bots snatch up every seat only to have them reappear minutes later for triple the price.

B.C. really needs to follow Ontario’s lead here. There is no reason why fans in Vancouver or Victoria should be at the mercy of scalpers while Ontario has already figured out a solution. A similar law here would finally level the playing field and make sure live music and sports are actually accessible to regular people again.