Philippine President Benigno Aquino is slated to visit Canada next month – the latest high-profile visit by a foreign leader that comes in the run-up to this year’s federal election.

Sources tell CTV News that top Canadian officials have been aggressively trying to arrange his Canadian visit as soon as possible.

The visit could score big political points for the Conservatives as political parties attempt to court voters from Canada’s significant immigrant population leading up to the fall election.

“Everybody is excited he will come here, and hopefully it will push through,” said Carmelita Salonga Tapia, president of the Southeast Asia Canada Business Council. “We are praying no untoward incident in the Philippines will stop him.”

News of the presidential visit -- which is tentatively slated for the first week in May -- comes on the heels of last week’s visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Elected in 2010, President Aquino continues a powerful family political dynasty: His mother, Corazon Aquino, led the Philippines’ democratic revolution. To many Filipinos, he embodies the legacy of peace and freedom.

Sources say Aquino and Prime Minister Stephen Harper will explore free trade talks during the visit.

“The Philippines is a player in Asia-Pacific region, and Canada wants to be fully engaged in Asia-Pacific trade, or Trans-Pacific trade,” said Lawrence Herman, a Toronto-based international trade lawyer.

CTV News pollster Nik Nanos said the Conservatives are attempting to connect with “critical voting groups” ahead of the election.

“This is about the intersection of diaspora politics and political principle,” Nanos said.

The Filipino population is growing in Canada. Statistics Canada now says it’s the country’s third-largest source of immigrants.

After Ottawa, trip organizers are planning stops in cities where the Filipino population is heavily concentrated, including Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

Opposition parties accuse the Conservatives of using ethnic politics to shore up votes at home.

“I imagine the prime minister is hoping some of the aura of the current Philippine president is going to rub off in the Canadian context”, said NDP Immigration Critic Andrew Cash.

“It is obvious we’re going to have an election in six months, and there are significant ethnic groups in this country – ethic groups and others – that are being courted,” said Liberal MP Marc Garneau.

This past week, Harper welcomed Narendra Modi, who is the first sitting Indian prime minister to visit Canada in 42 years. Modi received a rock-star welcome at the beginning of his three-day visit, which was closely watched by the Indian diaspora.

With files from Richard Madan