U2 frontman Bono was mobbed by fans hoping to get his autograph or grasp his hand under the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill Monday, as he arrived for meetings with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and opposition leaders.
The Irish rock singer sparked another round in the political debate over the Conservative government's development policy, which has focused on maternal and child health, while freezing overall development spending.
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Bono remained above the fray, striking an upbeat note as he arrived on Parliament Hill repeating his mantra of "the world needs more Canada."
"Development assistance, or foreign aid as you call it here, is a really good way of showing who you are to the rest of the world," Bono said, surrounded by fans and well-wishers.
Fresh off a show in Montreal, Bono arrived earlier in the day at the National Arts Centre in the city's downtown to discuss foreign aid with several non-governmental organizations.
"It's my hope that Bono's visit will boost Canadian awareness and engagement on international development priorities," said Michael Messenger, president of World Vision Canada.
"Today's discussions underscore that we cannot work alone — success and innovation happen when we're all at the table, committed to improving the lives of children."
U2 frontman Bono is recognized in the visitors' gallery in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Monday. Bono was on Parliament Hill for meetings with political leaders and non-profit organizations. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, who greeted the singer upon his arrival, said Bono's star power will help to focus political attention on some overlooked issues.
Bono was to meet with Harper to talk about maternal and child health aid projects in Africa and elsewhere.
The Prime Minister's Office says the Irish singer and humanitarian activist requested the meeting with Harper. Bono was also to meet with NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
NDP critical of overall aid spending
Harper has committed $3.5 billion toward the maternal and child health cause, his signature foreign-aid initiative aimed at reducing the number of deaths of newborns and their mothers in the developing world.
But the NDP was critical of Canada's overall aid spending, which has fallen to 0.24 per cent of GDP, well below 0.7 target set by the United Nations.
The Harper government froze aid spending five years ago, and the most recent budget did not reverse that trend.
The United Kingdom has committed to reaching the 0.7 per cent target, despite having a less robust economy than Canada's, said NDP development critic Helene Laverdiere.
She also said the government has also lapsed hundreds of millions of aid spending that could have gone towards worthy aid programming.
"Those are cuts through the back door," she said.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed to CBC News last Friday that Harper and Bono would meet privately this afternoon. Bono requested the meeting with Harper to discuss maternal and child health — issuesthe prime minister has previously spoken about 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 in Ottawa, including Bryan Adams and Randy Bachman.
Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, has met with Canadian politicians in the past to promote aid and debt relief 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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