U2 frontman and philanthropist Bono will meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday to discuss Canada’s maternal and child health initiative, CTV News has confirmed.
The meeting comes after several attempts by the rock star to meet with the prime minister.
In 2007, Harper refused to make time for Bono at a G8 summit, saying he was too busy.
“Meeting celebrities isn’t my shtick. That’s the shtick of the previous guy,” he said at the time, referring to former prime minister Paul Martin, who had met Bono while in office.
The following year, Bono publically accused Harper of blocking a deal on African aid and of compromising Canada’s traditional role as a global aid provider.
“I’m sure Stephen Harper’s not a bad guy,” Bono said at a 2008 news conference in Paris. “But you know, the effect of losing Canada’s leadership on these global issues, it’s something that he should really think about.”
Known for occasionally breaking into song himself, Harper has met with musicians like Randy Bachman, Bryan Adams, and Yo-Yo Ma during his time as prime minister.
Bono’s visit to Ottawa coincides with U2’s current world tour which kicked off in Vancouver last month.
The singer will also meet with NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
