Buskers of the World, Unite!!

Classic Québec: The government overregulates, then a union is formed...

From CBC.ca:

Alternative street artists and buskers gathered in Montreal Thursday evening to voice concerns about what they claim is negative treatment from the city.

Montreal is considering proposals to amend the laws relating to street performers. The proposals include restricting buskers to certain areas, creating a "busker police" and more than doubling the price of work permits.

Currently, a general permit costs about $120, with a permit for performing in high-profile areas more expensive, up to around $300. The proposals suggest increasing the fee for general permits to about $400 and those for major tourist areas to about $800.

Montreal street artists object to the proposed changes, saying the government doesn't recognize the importance of alternative culture with funding as it does some forms of culture.

"Culture is not only about artists who play in [established Montreal entertainment venue] The Spectrum, it's also about people who play in the street," Sébastien Croteau, one of the meeting's organizers, told CBC News.

Croteau wants to see independent artists unite so they have a stronger voice.

"Money is going to the people who are well organized, the big events, the big venues," Croteau said. "It should be redistributed so it really resembles the reality in Montreal; that every actor in the cultural scene is important."