CTV.ca | Geldof puts pressure on Martin to increase = aid

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Geldof puts pressure on Martin to increase aid

CTV.ca News Staff

Prime Minister Paul Martin shouldn't bother going to the G-8 = summit in=20 Scotland in July unless he plans to increase aid to impoverished = African=20 nations, Bob Geldof said Tuesday.

Geldof said Canada should take leadership on this issue, and up = its=20 contributions to the levels set out by Lester B. Pearson 35 years = ago.=20 Pearson set a goal of allocating 0.7 per cent of the GDP for = aid.

"There is no use in your prime minister coming to Scotland, = unless he=20 is prepared to do this deal," Geldof said to a Canadian audience = via=20 satellite Tuesday.

"If he's not prepared, stay at home. Just stay at home. Don't = come.=20

"You're not welcome unless you are prepared to do something = finally and=20 irrevocably on behalf of the poor of this world," said Geldof, the = organizer of the series of global anti-poverty concerts.

Geldof made the comments as it was announced that the Canadian = Live 8=20 concert would be held in Barrie, Ont., north of Toronto.

Martin responded to the comments in question period Tuesday, at = the=20 urging of NDP leader Jack Layton.

Martin says he supports the 0.7 per cent goal but he says it's = just as=20 important for governments to say how they'll achieve the goal.

"I believe in the 0.7 and I would very much like to see Canada = get=20 there by the year 2015. But I'm not going to make a commitment = that I'm=20 not sure the government will be able to keep.

"Too often commitments are made on the grounds of photo ops and = I will=20 not do that."

The Live 8 concerts -- to be held around the world on July 2 -- = are the=20 brainchild of Geldof. They are meant to spur leaders of the G-8 = group of=20 wealthy nations to increase aid to impoverished nations when they = meet in=20 Perthshire, Scotland from July 6 to 8.

While Canada has the smallest population of all G-8 countries, = it is=20 the only country among the group to make a fiscal profit over the = last few=20 years. Geldof said that is one reason why Canada must take the = lead on=20 this issue.

As well, many of the proposals on Africa to be discussed at the = Scotland summit come directly from plans outlined at the G-8 = summit in=20 2002 in Kananaskis, Alta.

"There is every reason why they should take leadership of these = issues=20 because you proposed it 35 years ago, and you proposed it again at = your=20 own summit in Kananaskis," Geldof said of Canada.

Geldof joins U2 frontman Bono in pressing Martin to up aid to = Africa.=20

Bono told a crowd at a Vancouver concert in April that he was=20 disappointed that Martin had not yet delivered on a commitment to = raise=20 Canada's foreign aid spending to 0.7 per cent of the country's GDP = by=20 2015.

Ottawa has pledged to boost its international aid budget by = eight per=20 cent each year, with the goal of someday reaching the 0.7 per cent = level.

Meanwhile, finance ministers of the G8 who met earlier in June = agreed=20 to cancel at least $40 billion US worth of debt owed by poor, = developing=20 countries.

Geldof, who organized Live Aid concerts for African famine = relief in=20 1985, said that is a great first step.

"Now the pathway is cleared to make a historic doubling of aid = to=20 Africa, which is precisely what is needed," Geldof said.

The Live 8 concert in Barrie will feature acts such as Our Lady = Peace,=20 Sam Roberts, Simple Plan, Bachman Cummings Band, Deep Purple and = Motley=20 Crue.

Live 8 concerts are also confirmed for London, Berlin, = Philadelphia,=20 Paris and Rome. Another concert has been scheduled for Scotland on = July 6,=20 as leaders of the G-8 meet at the Gleneagles Hotel.

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Geldof puts pressure on Martin to increase aid

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