License to busk?

Metro photo

Would-be busker Michael Bellwood auditions for busking Translink 

The campaign to control the city's buskers began in earnest before the Olympics came to Vancouver in 2010. Now the misguided bureaucrats are at it again. (At least I hope that's the explanation. Other possibilities are too scary.)

It seems they've decided against free speech on Granville Island, even though it's been a hotbed of weird and wonderful street entertainments ever since its inception way back as a shopping and entertainment destination.

Scripts for buskers must now be pre-approved. Buskers are not to interact with their audiences. In other  words, the show is over.

According to Denise Ryan in the Vancouver Sun, one of the tragic side effects of this latest round of busker busting is Keegan Chen's unexplained loss of the license to busk. Living with Aspergers is a challenge, and Chen is devastated. He's been happily and successfully busking for years.

Whoever is behind these new rules should have their heads soaked -- twice, to match the doubling of the busking license fee.

Wait -- I have a better idea. They should be forced to study some history, just so they have an idea about the importance of free speech and the dangers of curtailing it. But then, who would vet the history scripts?

Maybe we should go to the top. How about Prime Minister Stephen Harper, ex-aide Nigel Wright or Senator Mike Duffy? No, bad idea. They're too busy working on their own creative scripts. Just kidding.

If it hasn't already, this debacle should make the CBC.

The field of action may seem small, but the issue is serious.