The federal Liberal government has yet to respond to a months-old invitation from Tokyo to have Canada rejoin a global environmental organization that regulates the timber trade.

A July 2022 briefing note obtained through an access-to-information request shows that Japan has asked Ottawa to be part of the International Tropical Timber Organization.

The group works with producer and consumer countries to share knowledge about conservation practices and to promote the sale of sustainable timber.

The organization currently includes 37 exporters of timber and 38 countries that import it, including all other G7 states.

Canada was among the signatories to the 1983 treaty that originally created the organization, but Stephen Harper91裸聊视频檚 Conservative government pulled out of it in 2013.

The same year, Harper91裸聊视频檚 government also pulled Canada out of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, a move the Trudeau government reversed in 2016.

But Canada has now been absent from the timber organization for nearly a decade, during which the World Wildlife Fund has reported worsening tropical deforestation in parts of southern Africa and Peru, driven by illegal and unsustainable logging.

A briefing note prepared for International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan notes Japan91裸聊视频檚 invitation to rejoin but doesn91裸聊视频檛 specify when it was made.

91裸聊视频淪ustainable forest products, limiting deforestation and combating illegal logging are priorities for Canada,91裸聊视频� reads the July 2022 briefing note, prepared in advance of a call with Japan91裸聊视频檚 then-state minister of foreign affairs, Takako Suzuki.

The document recommended to Sajjan that if Suzuki made note of Tokyo91裸聊视频檚 previous invitation, he should respond that Canada 91裸聊视频渨ill consider rejoining91裸聊视频� but note that Canada91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渞e-entry would require a long parliamentary accession process.91裸聊视频�

Six months later, Natural Resources Canada says it 91裸聊视频渃ontinues to actively consider whether to rejoin the treaty91裸聊视频� but will not elaborate on that process.

91裸聊视频淭he government strongly supports global efforts to promote sustainable forest management and halt deforestation,91裸聊视频� spokesman Michael MacDonald wrote in an email.

91裸聊视频淐anada left the treaty in 2013 in part because it does not have tropical forests,91裸聊视频� MacDonald wrote 91裸聊视频� despite 38 other non-tropical countries being members of the group.

He noted that Canada has signed onto similar agreements, such as the Glasgow Leaders91裸聊视频� Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

MacDonald said Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson was not available for an interview.

The Conservatives, Bloc Qu茅b茅cois, NDP and Green Party did not respond to requests for comment before deadline.

91裸聊视频擠ylan Robertson, The Canadian Press