OTTAWA — Environmentalists say inviting African leaders to the G8 and then not discussing climate change would be a "slap in the face."

Climate Action Network Canada says it would be "highly hypocritical" to ask the leaders of seven countries on a continent acutely affected by climate change to the summit and then ignore the issue.

Over the weekend Canada invited Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa to attend a special summit session.

Haiti, Jamaica and Colombia have also been invited.

The coalition of environmental groups was also critical of the governing Conservatives for not holding a meeting of G8 environment ministers ahead of the summit in Huntsville, Ont.

They say it's the first time since 1994 that environment ministers have not met ahead of a gathering of the world's wealthiest nations.