olliamh! Right you are about Montreal and Quebec in general... I used to busk every once and awhile with Andre Simoneau, the great Hurdy Gurdy player and maker. When folks from the ministry of culture would come around, Andre would hiss at me... Don't talk, Larry, just play... most of them can't tell Irish music from Quebec music anyway! George Ward, RIGHT you are! As to the general right to busk, it is generally a free speach issue, however the controlls come about when in places that are private though appear to be public, like the subway, and crowds on street issues. Cheers, Larry