Toronto

Ontario ticket scalping law in effect

Ontario's new law to stop U.S. entertainment giant Ticketmaster and others from selling and reselling tickets to the same event is now in effect.
Ontario's law preventing Ticketmaster from reselling event tickets at inflated prices through its other company has taken effect. ((Paul Sakuma/Associated Press))

Ontario's new law to stop U.S. entertainment giant Ticketmaster and others from selling and reselling tickets to the same event is now in effect.

It remains to be seen if the Opposition is right when it says it will do nothing to end scalping or keep prices down.

NDP critic Peter Kormos says the law doesn't stop people from buying blocks of tickets online and then putting them on resale sites.

Progressive Conservative Ted Chudleigh says the new rules will not reduce the price of tickets.

Attorney General Chris Bentley says the Ticket Speculation Act will ensure people have fair access to concerts, theatrical or sport events.

The province made the changes after people complained they tried to buy concert tickets the minute they went on sale, only to be redirected to another site where prices were much higher.