I am a busker in Nanimo Britsh Columbia. i started busking on the streets of vancouver when i was 15 years old.
I am now 53.
for many years I was an accoustic only busker. i raised five children on the money i made playing on the street.
As time has gone by the world has changed. Especially the busking world in Nanaimo.
There are more buskers , more regulations and less places to play.
I always found it difficult to play and sing over a fiddle, a bagpiper or accordions. I persevered for years. in my town there is a lot of noise from traffic , comstruction and just everyday city life.Our city has special permits for amplified invited buskers who the city deem appropriate for whatever reason.There are also countless amplified perfomances by full bands with tens of thousands of watts being put out. I bought myself a crate limosine five years ago so I could amplify my vocals to give myself an edge. It worked and the other buskers got choked. I also play in a professional band and have run sound for years. i bought the best busking amp with money I earned from busking.
Ourcity allows pianos , electric guitars , electric bass to be amplified with a 15 watt amplifier. They do not allow an accoustic guitar with a pick up to be amplified. Neither do they allow the human voice to be amplified.

In my opinion those musicians who know how to do sound and have earned the money to buy good gear should be allowed to use it . Provided that they do not infringe apon the rights of others. There should be space created for accoustic and other instruments which includes loud instruments like bagpipes drums accordions and fiddles.

Amplification is a great tool but must be used properly.