October 05, 2017 - 2:24 PM
TORONTO - Ontario has introduced broad consumer protection legislation that covers home warranties, ticket sales, real estate practices, and travel services. Here are some of the provisions in the bill:
Ticket sales
— Bans the use of automated ticket purchasing software, or so-called scalper bots.
— Bans tickets from being resold at more than 50 per cent of the face value.
— Makes it illegal to knowingly resell tickets that were purchased by bots.
— Ticket sellers would also have to disclose how many tickets will be on sale as well as the venue capacity, an itemized list of all fees, taxes and service charges.
— Ticket resellers would have to disclose the ticket's face value.
— Companies would have the power to sue other companies for losses resulting from the use of bots.
Home warranties
— Establishes one administrative authority to deliver the warranty program for new homes and a separate one to regulate new home builders.
— Clarifies the dispute resolution process to make it easier and fairer for new home owners.
— Gives the auditor general the power to investigate the regulatory authorities.
Real estate
— Allows the government to create regulations specifying circumstances in which real estate agents and brokerages are prohibited from representing both buyer and seller in a transaction.
— Real estate sellers, brokers and brokerages would also be subject to stiffer fines if they violate a code of ethics, up from $25,000 to $50,000 and $100,000 for brokerages.
Travel industry
— A travel salesperson could be required to take educational courses if a complaint is made against them.
— Travel salespeople would no longer have to register as both a travel agent and a wholesaler.
— Allows the government to make regulations governing advertising by out-of-province travel sellers who target Ontarians.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2017