(05-05-2006) U2's Bono Says Conservative Budget Hits Sour Note on Foreign Aid -- CP*

[dsmith2904]

U2's Bono Says Conservative Budget Hits Sour Note on Foreign Aid

OTTAWA (CP) - U2 frontman Bono says the Conservatives seem to be breaking an election pledge to help the world's poor.

The Irish rocker, who's made alleviating poverty in Africa a veritable crusade, has pushed Canada to increase foreign-aid spending. In a statement released by the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, Bono says many lives depend on the Harper government keeping its promises.

During the election campaign, the Tories pledged to boost overseas development assistance and move toward the average level for donor countries.

The budget tabled this week continues the Liberal policy of increasing foreign aid spending by eight per cent.

But there's no timetable for ushering in the Conservative aid promises.

 

[dlihcraw]

It's not Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government that has failed the world's poor, but all Canadian governments since Lester B. Pearson's minority Liberal government in the mid-to-late 1960s. Canada is a prosperous country, our future is secure in the sale of oil, lumber, food and cars; we are the only G7 nation without a deficit and surpluses are projected for the remainder of the decade. We should share the wealth, we can share the wealth, we need to share the wealth. Let us finally fulfil Pearson's target of 0.70 GDP to foreign aid.