Rock star, currently touring with his band, will be in Ottawa to discuss African aid initiatives with NGOs
CBC News
U2 rock star and philanthropist Bono will meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau following a session with several non-profit organizations in Ottawa on Monday.
Stuart Hickox, founder of the non-profit "social marketing" organization One Change, confirmed Bono is coming to the capital for talks focused on aid in Africa, and is expected to attend question period following that meeting.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the meeting between Harper and Bono will take place Monday afternoon. Harper is expected to discuss his maternal and child health initiative, which he has previously discussed before the United Nations General Assembly.
In 2007, Harper refused to meet with Bono at a G8 summit in Germany, saying, "Meeting celebrities isn't my shtick."
Harper has since jammed with visiting musicians at 24 Sussex, including Bryan Adams and Randy Bachman.
An NDP source told CBC News that Mulcair will meet with Bono after question period to discuss the rock star's organization ONE, which aims to end extreme poverty.
Trudeau will also have a private meeting with the Irish celebrity, his director of communications told CBC News.
U2 kicked off its current tour in Vancouver last month and plays four shows in Montreal over the weekend and into next week.
Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, has met with Canadian politicians in the past to promote aid for Africa. He was the keynote speaker at the Liberal convention that elected Paul Martin as leader in November 2003. Bono was also at Martin's side during an HIV/AIDS symposium in Ottawa in 2004.
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Original article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/u2-s-bono-to-meet-harper-mulcair-and-trudeau-on-parliament-hill-monday-1.3111386
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