B.C. government ‘will be monitoring closely’ as Ontario moves to ban for-profit ticket resales

The B.C. government is watching with interest as Ontario prepares to introduce changes to its Ticket Sales Act.

With Ontario’s government set to introduce changes to its Ticket Sales Act that would make it illegal to re-sell tickets for more than their original cost, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says the province is watching with interest.

“We understand how frustrated people are with these for-profit resale tickets to popular events. I know the topic right now is surrounding FIFA, but also other events that we have here in B.C. Our province has been exploring potential avenues to better regulate the secondary ticket market,” said Anne Kang, adding, officials will be “monitoring closely” as Ontario’s legislation rolls out to see what lessons can be applied in B.C.

Vancouver ticket broker Kingsley Bailey argues it’s impossible to legislate ticket re-sales, the majority of which happen online through sites not based in Canada.

“When I first heard of it, I laughed. I thought it was absolutely moronic to try and pull that together,” said Bailey. “I’m not worried at all because it’s a logistical nightmare. It cannot happen in the format that they’re trying to make it happen.”

While Bailey acknowledged legislation like what’s being proposed in Ontario is aimed at putting brokers like him out of business, he’s confident it won’t work.

“There are ways around it and I know what they are. And I think that if they are doing their homework, they’ll know what they are too, and they’ll realize it’s impossible,” said Bailey.

Banning the for-profit resale of tickets is not unprecedented. It’s already the law in the U.K.

“It’s happening in the U.K., but the U.K.’s model is separate, a different value system than what’s in North America,” argued Bailey. “North America is all about capitalism. The U.K. is more about the consumerism, and that’s the differences.”

While he knows some people detest scalping, the longtime broker defends the practice. “I don’t see that there’s a problem in wanting to sell a ticket for more than regular price. If there’s a market out there, that’s fine, as long as they purchase a ticket through legal means,” said Bailey, who believes consumers would be better served if the province focused on demanding transparency in ticket prices from Ticketmaster and venues.

Ontario’s ticket legislation is being introduced in that province’s budget next week, but it’s unclear when any changes would take effect. Like Vancouver, Toronto is hosting World Cup matches in just a few months, and ticket resale prices are through the roof.

“Every Canadian game is going to be off the charts,” said Bailey. “People in North America do not realize how big this event is.”

And with no laws preventing reselling in B.C., brokers and other ticket holders looking to turn a profit are preparing to cash in.