I have my doubts it's happening, but I'll keep my ear to the ground.
Vancouver has some advantages over other places. Taxes, lack of professional/family/weather distractions plus they can walk around with little hassle but it's a big enough city for whatever they need. Weather is close to Dublin.
BTW, having the studio on hold for month is probably a $50,000 tab. How many acts throw around that kind of money in 2011?
oh i have no doubt that u2 would consider a city like vancouver... it's a beautiful place, and if i'm not mistaken, didn't they rehearse there for a few weeks before the vertigo tour? they obviously have a liking of the city, and why wouldn't they?
two members of the band just happen to have to be in new york for an indeterminable amount of time during the time that they'd allegedly be in vancouver... thus it makes no sense at this particular time.