OTTAWA - Two federal ministers have put up a "not welcome" sign for members of Hamas, a banned terrorist group in Canada, who might attend an International Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in Quebec City this fall.

QMI Agency has obtained a letter that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird

and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney have sent to the speakers of the House of Commons and the Senate.

"We would also note that Canada is hosting the 127th IPU Assembly in Quebec City from October 21-26, 2012, and that the costs of this event are being borne virtually entirely by Canadian taxpayers," said Baird and Kenney in the letter. "Should the IPU indicate to you that they are willing to welcome Hamas, we would suggest that Canada decline to host this meeting."

The letter notes Canadian taxpayers shell out $400,000 in annual membership dues to the IPU and have contributed $660,000 to its programming over three years.