OTTAWA - Irish rocker Bono is "mystified" and "crushed" by Prime Minister Paul Martin's failure to pledge more aid for the world's poor and predicted he will be punished for it by Canadians at the polls.
Comparing the growing battle to lift global poverty to the fight to end apartheid, the U2 frontman said Martin could suffer a ballot-box backlash if he refuses to commit to meeting the target of 0.7% of GDP adopted by other wealthy nations.
"I think the prime minister will find out, if he walks away from the opportunity to 0.7%, I think he will hear about it and feel it in the election. I'm absolutely sure of that," he told reporters during an Ottawa news conference.
Bono said the Make Poverty History campaign is growing in momentum and urged Canadians to press politicians on the issue as they come knocking at doors during the election campaign. Calling himself a "fan" of Canada, the musician-activist praised results of a recent poll that showed 45% of Canadians support giving more money to end world hunger and disease.
"There's something about Canada that sets it apart. It's this kind of leadership, this sense of decency and a kind of awakeness to what's going on in the wider world that's what sets Canada apart," he said.
But Bono blasted Martin for failing to deliver the goods while the nation's economy flourishes.
"I'm personally not just disappointed; I'm crushed, actually, because I believed the prime minister would do that," he said.
"I felt as a former finance minister, he would be able to make the numbers work."
Martin said he'd spoken with Bono on the phone for about 15 minutes yesterday morning.
"His role is to push me forward," Martin said at a first ministers' conference in Kelowna, B.C., before reiterating his oft-stated belief that Canada can't commit to the 0.7% target without a firm plan for reaching that goal.
In the House of Commons, Finance Minister Ralph Goodale defended the government's record of helping developing countries, pointing to a doubling of aid to Africa and the writing off of billions in debt owed by poor countries.
He also noted a $342-million investment to combat malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS, and a $500-million fund to promote global peace and security in places like Sudan.
Bono met with Goodale and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, then chatted on the phone with NDP Leader Jack Layton and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. Last night, he attended a private reception hosted by Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach before thrilling fans at the Corel Centre.
- With CP files
