OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier has been ousted as Canada's foreign affairs minister over his sloppy handling of secret cabinet documents -- an error condemned as "very grave" by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The embattled Quebec MP, who has come under mounting pressure to resign over his past romantic links with a woman with former ties to the Hells Angels, will be replaced in the short term by David Emerson.
"He told me he has left classified cabinet documents in a place that was not secure," a visibly shaken Harper announced last night. "Evidently this is an error that is very grave. We will review this incident."
Harper said he accepted Bernier's resignation yesterday afternoon -- just hours after he defensively brushed off Opposition concerns during a noon news conference. But the PM insisted Bernier's departure has nothing to do with his past romantic links to Julie Couillard.
"I don't think it matters who a minister is dating, I don't think it matters anything about the private life of a private citizen," he said. "What matters here is that rules respecting classified government documents were broken."
In an exclusive interview with canoe.tv last night, Couillard revealed Bernier left a cabinet document at her home.
"It was a document that was addressed to Maxime and it was not for my eyes. I did not read it. I was very uncomfortable," she said. "And I was panicked by the fact that I had that at my house especially after hearing in our House of Commons that I could have possibly been a threat for national security."
Couillard said she called her lawyer for advice, and the document was returned to the government.
Bernier issued a statement last night admitting his mistake, thanking the PM for the trust shown in him and vowing to continue his work as an MP.
"Prime Minister, the security breach that occurred was my fault and my fault alone and I take full responsibility for my actions," he wrote.
Harper, who had brushed off Opposition concerns for weeks and defending Bernier's "private life," conceded the incident was a black mark for the Conservatives.
"Obviously I am very disappointed, I'm very disappointed for the government, disappointed for Maxime. It's very unfortunate. Maxime became aware of this, he told me, late last evening and informed me this afternoon," he said.
"I accepted his resignation right away and we spent the last couple of hours putting the mechanisms in place for the transition."
But outraged Opposition MPs aren't prepared to let the issue lie with Bernier's resignation. Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said Canadians deserve answers on whether national security was put at risk and if the government has a plan to restore the foreign affairs department's reputation.
"The prime minister has been very dismissive of this situation for at least three weeks now despite the questions," Goodale said. "The prime minister has a lot of explaining to do because there is a lot of information and a lot of detail yet to pursue."
NDP Leader Jack Layton called Bernier's latest gaffe the "straw that broke the camel's back on a series of incompetencies" and demanded to know why the PM didn't take the issue more seriously when grilled about Bernier's former girlfriend.
"I think there are all kinds of questions," said Layton. "When the prime minister comes and just simply says there were some documents set aside in a way that made them assessable to other people everybody wants to know what the heck we are talking about here."
BERNIER FILE
- First elected Jan. 23, 2006, in riding of Beauce with 67% of the votes.
- Appointed minister of industry Feb. 6, 2006.
- Appointed minister of foreign affairs Aug. 14, 2007, turning heads when he arrived at the Rideau Hall swearing-in ceremony with Julie Couillard, who was wearing a low-cut dress.
- In April 2008, Bernier caused a diplomatic stir when he suggested Kandahar's Gov. Asadullah Khalid should resign because of a perception of corruption; he later retracted the statement.
- In May 2008, reports were made public that Couillard had past links to organized crime; Opposition MPs raise security concerns but top Conservatives dismiss concerns.
- Opposition calls mount for Bernier's resignation after he promises to provide a C-17 plane to help airlift emergency supplies to the cyclone-stricken Burma that was not available.
- At 7 p.m. yesterday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces that he has accepted Bernier's resignation after the ex-minister revealed that he had left sensitive documents unsecured.
BERNIER'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION:
Prime Minister,
This is to inform you that I am resigning my post as Minister of Foreign Affairs, effective immediately.
I informed you late this afternoon that last night I became aware that I had left behind classified government documents at a private residence.
Prime Minister, the security breach that occurred was my fault and my fault alone and I take full responsibility for my actions.
I have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to conduct a thorough review of the situation.
Thank you for the trust you have shown in me. I will do everything I can to serve the government well in my capacity as Member of Parliament.
Yours truly,
Maxime Bernier
