Great post. Great rhetoric, Rick.

First a non-rhetorical question. Was there a time when buskers were not required to have licenses? Does the current situation represent deterioration from better days when buskers roamed wild and free on the streets of Toronto? If it is a new or relatively new thing, why did it come to be? Even "soots'nties" sometimes do things for what they feel are good reasons other than a fear of those who are NOT "card-carrying establishment robots".

The reason I ask is that if you know why something happened, there's a better chance of making it unhappen. Another reason I ask is because the only city I have had personal experience with that is even remotely what I would call "busker friendly" is New Orleans. Toronto's discouragement of busking through rules seems kind of normal to me. I guess I am mildly surprised that they allow it at all. Also it is my impression that North American has never been particularly busker friendly, at least in my lifetime.

As a solid, respected, well-known, taxpaying resident of Toronto you'd be the perfect leader/spokesperson for a freedom-to-busk movement. I'm not sure if you are old enough to remember the political turmoil of the 60s and early 70s, but there's an arsenal of tools and methods for effecting social change. Get an aging radical to reminisce. I am sure you have friends who understand in detail how the municipal government works and can give you advice on whom to see, what to say, and what to do.

Power to the People!!!