Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has more Troubles

And you would have thought an impending no confidence vote would have been all that is troubling Paul Martin, eh?

Prime Minister says he and Bono are still good friends despite being booed

Paul Martin says he and rock-star Bono are still tight despite the fact that U2 fans booed the prime minister at a concert earlier this week.

It’s no rift,” Martin insisted Friday after reporters asked him questions about the sour reaction.

“We are very, very good friends.”

U2 opened its Vertigo tour Thursday night to a sold-out audience in Vancouver. During the show lead-singer Bono, who has been pushing Martin for more Third World aid, encouraged fans to call Martin and tell him that he is not doing enough.

Fans booed Martin, whipped out their cell phones and started dialling.

Bono has repeatedly challenged Martin to deliver on a commitment to raise Canada’s spending on foreign aid to 0.7 per cent of the gross domestic product by 2015.

Canada now commits less than 0.3 per cent of its annual gross domestic product – about $3.3 billion.

Martin said Friday he supports the increased spending but he was not prepared to give a time line for when that will happen until he is sure that Canada can afford it.

He pointed out that Canada is already a leader in Third World debt relief and support for countries struggling with
AIDS.

“I said to him, ‘Look, you have had three objectives. I’ve delivered on two and it will take me a little longer on the third’,” Martin said.

He said he planned to go to the U2 concert when the band comes through Ottawa.

“Am I going? Absolutely,” Martin said. “I’ve actually said that I may get up there and actually sing. Ticket sales have dropped way off.”

Bono did have some good things to say about Martin, calling him a “great leader for Canada” and that he would listen to the people if they spoke loud enough.

Bono and Martin have had a cosy relationship since Martin was finance minister and the U2 frontman lobbied the G-8 countries to increase their foreign aid. Bono showed up at the Liberal convention where Martin was named party leader in 2003.

Wonder if Bono will campaign for him in this summer’s no confidence election?