NDP calls for investigation into Ticketmaster after families get gouged on Taylor Swift tickets

OTTAWA – This week, NDP critic for Innovation, Science & Economic Development Brian Masse (Windsor West) wrote to the minister to urge an investigation into Ticketmaster and to take immediate action to work with provinces to crack down on scalper bots and resellers.

The call comes after many families were forced to pay thousands of dollars to see Taylor Swift in Canada after scalpers and bots scooped up the tickets and sold them at an excessively high cost. Ticketmaster profits from these scalpers as they have their own resale platform that gouges Canadians.

“Families and hard-working young people saved up for months to see their favourite artist, only to be forced to pay thousands of dollars to scalpers,” said Masse. “The Liberals have done nothing to make sure these tickets are accessible and has let Ticketmaster gouge Canadians and profit from high resell fees. It’s not fair. Liberals are letting big corporations rip off Canadians—this needs to stop.”

Masse also pointed out hotel rooms being 10 times higher than usual, with nightly rates as high at $2,000 dollars as another example of big corporations taking advantage of people with the Liberals doing nothing to stop it.

“Enough is enough,” added Masse. “The Liberals need to act now and the Conservatives need to stop staying silent while people get ripped off when they want to go see the artists they love. New Democrats will keep taking on corporate greed and fight for people.”