Two years after the scandalous resale at exorbitant prices of free tickets for the national tribute to Karl Tremblay, the Coalition Avenir Québec government is preparing to table a bill aimed at imposing more transparency on resale platforms without, however, banning the practice.
Quebec no longer wants these resale platforms, such as tickets.ca, which imitate the official sites of artists or performance halls, thus deceiving buyers, explains the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, in an exclusive interview granted to Journal.
For the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, resellers who trade on the backs of artists are “cultural parasites”.
Photo STEVENS LEBLANC
“Many resale sites use the artist’s official photo or reproduce the look of a performance venue on their website. It’s very well done and it gives people the impression that they are on the official site,” laments Mr. Jolin-Barrette.
In the bill, which could be submitted as early as next week, the CAQ will require that “consumers clearly know that they are on a resale platform and that they can check the availability of tickets at the regular price on the official website.”
“They are cultural parasites,” rages the minister, who describes the methods of the resale sites as “dishonest”.
“Resale sites that do not have an agreement with authorized producers take advantage of the work of artists.”
Individuals not affected
However, the government will not go as far as the United Kingdom, where a bill aims to prohibit any resale of tickets at a price higher than their original value, both for resale sites and between individuals.
“Our target is the traders who make a profit on the backs of artists and producers. We do not want to prevent individuals from reselling tickets among themselves,” says Simon Jolin-Barrette.
In Quebec, tickets to attend Summer Festival concerts are resold between spectators.
Photo to archives, MEGA/WENN
In any case, recalls the minister, Quebec law already prohibits resale for commercial purposes unless the producer has authorization.
“We chose to allow resale, but to better regulate it.”
To buy more shows
In December 2023, MP Kariane Bourassa, who was then the parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Justice, received the mandate to paint a portrait of the situation with ticket resale in Quebec.
Profiteers had then just posted $500 tickets, obtained free of charge, to attend the tribute ceremony to the singer of the Cowboys Fringants, at the Bell Centre, a gesture which had aroused the indignation of his widow, Marie-Annick Lépine, and the public.
The high-priced resale of passes for the Quebec Summer Festival has also created discontent in recent years. Recently, tickets to see Paul McCartney at the Bell Center were on sale for over $5,000.
Paul McCartney at the Bell Center on November 17.
Photo d’archives, MARTIN CHEVALIER
“Before, this phenomenon affected large performance halls. By consulting the industry, we found that resale also affects medium and small-sized theaters,” points out Simon Jolin-Barrette.
He therefore hopes that new legislation will allow Quebecers to consume more local culture.
“Suppose a buyer pays $150 for a ticket whose actual price was $50. This reduces his cultural budget: he could have attended three different shows at $50 rather than paying just one at $150,” explains the minister.