Bernier hurt Canada's reputation: gov't report

The Foreign Affairs department concluded that its former minister, Maxime Bernier, did not compromise national security by leaving confidential NATO files at his ex-girlfriend's place, but he did tarnish Canada's reputation in the eyes of its allies.

CTV Newsnet: Paul Dewar, NDP foreign affairs critic, on the timing of the report

The timing of the release of a report on the Bernier affair suggests the government is trying to avoid drawing attention to the issue.

CTV Newsnet: Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal Public Safety Critic, on the need for an inquiry

Critics say the report on the Bernier report is 'not worth the paper it is written on' and that an independent public inquiry is needed.

CTV Newsnet: Michel Juneau-Katsuya, security expert, on the unanswered questions

A report into the Maxime Bernier affair doesn't answer key questions about the missing documents, says a security expert.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Fri. Aug. 1 2008 11:25 PM ET

The federal government has quietly released its report into the security breach that occurred when former foreign minister Maxime Bernier left classified NATO documents at his ex-girlfriend's home.

The internal review says that Bernier's carelessness hurt Canada's reputation within NATO circles and was "injurious" to national interest.

Bernier's relationship with Julie Couillard came under intense scrutiny after it became known that she had intimate links to criminal biker gangs and mobsters in her past.

Bernier resigned from his post over the missing documents but said he didn't remember leaving them behind when he left his ex-girlfriend's home the morning of April 5.

But the report, conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs, appears to put most of the blame on Couillard, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said on CTV Newsnet Friday.

The report says that Couillard had two opportunities to tell Bernier about the documents left at her home, but did not.

The report also concluded:

Bernier took NATO briefing documents into Couillard's home but left without them.
Due to lack of evidence to refute Bernier's version of events, he did not remove the materials from his unlocked briefcase.
Couillard "may have put herself in potential jeopardy of having contravened a provision of the Security of Information Act."

Investigators did not interview Couillard in the report.

The report does not say what the secret documents contained but "that their disclosure would not have caused significant injury to the national interest."

The report makes several recommendations to beef up ministerial security of secret documents.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson said he accepts the recommendations.

Bernier, Couillard meet

The report's appendix notes that Ian Brodie, the prime minister's former chief of staff, called Bernier on April 20 to inform him about rumours about Couillard's mob-related past. Bernier said he was unaware on any links and offered to call Couillard, but Brodie told him not to.

But on April 22, Bernier runs into Couillard at a Quebec fundraiser, where they shared a cocktail. Bernier informs Couillard of the rumours he has heard, but she informs him that they are unfounded, the report says.

After the Globe and Mail reported on Couillard's ties to bikers on May 8, Bernier says that she called him, upset and crying.

Bernier says in the report that he recalled her saying:

"You destroyed my life!"
"The journalists are here!"
"Why didn't you tell me?"

The next day, Couillard was interviewed on television and revealed the missing document bombshell to the public. Bernier resigned the same day.

'A whitewash'

NDP MP Paul Dewar called the report a "gross whitewash" on CTV Newsnet Friday.

Liberal public safety critic Ujjal Dosanjh called for a full public inquiry and said on CTV Newsnet that both Couillard and Bernier needed to be subpoenaed into testifying.

Both opposition members noted that the government released the report the night before a long weekend.

The report was dated July 16.

Comments are now closed for this story

John Wilson
said

Wow! Lets bring back the Liberals. With them we had real scandals to talk about and more still to come.

Spencer
said

The sad news for the country is that David Emerson is the new Minister. What world leader would trust this Benedict Arnold with state secrets. Who would trust him with anything considering he sold out his constituents to the highest bidder. Election is on the way for Emerson and betrayed people do not forget.

Paul B
said

I think Voice of Reason needs to get a better grip on reality.

The sponsorship scandal was 100 times worse than this.

As for your claim of two people being involved, I suggest you go review your notes. You rant about Bernier "only resigning", yet fail to mention Chretien made Gagliano Ambassador to Denmark when it was revealed what adscam was all about.

And I guess you missed the news reports awhile back about Dion wanting to let some of those "dismissed" Liberal members back into the party.

Yvonne in Huntsville
said

Nice touch for this report to put the majority of the blame on Couillard for not reporting the documents being left at her apartment, and then not even interviewing her to give her side of the story in the report. Of course none of the blame should fall on poor absent-minded Bernier's shoulders as he mucked his job up yet one more time, bringing embarrassment upon the country yet one more time. What we have here is a classic Harper-style move, where he knows it was ridiculous to appoint a rookie to such a high post, but he refuses to accept any blame for his poor judgment. Hopefully the people of this country will use better judgment when we thankfully go to the polls in the near future.

The Voice of Reason
said

BB in BC:

You lecture us for using phrases like "con" and you go out there and start tossing around the word "Lieberal"?

Thanks for proving every Liberal right about the hypocrisy of all of Harper's supporters.

Added to which, it's funny how you call them Lieberals when Harper lied about income trusts, lied about softwood lumber, lied about equalization payments, lied about fair taxation, lied about accountability, lied about health care wait times, lied about prisoner abuse oh DEAR GOD Do I really need to go on?

This is what you call a LEADER?

Sad.

David Lorne
said

Yawn: with or without the side-view of Julie.

Spencer
said

I see that the RCMP is going to investigate Ms. Couliard. The Tories say she took the documents out of Bernier's briefcase. Typical Conservative reaction when cornered, blame the woman. Not to surprising given the way that Bernier treated Couliard, telling her at the onset of their relationship that she had to be his ornament for a specific period of time. Bernier needed eye candy to impress his horny counterparts around the world.what is most revolting is that, in Typical Torie fashion, he blames his female companion for his own incompetence. Sue the Scumbags Julie and make them pay!!! P.S. I'm a 45 year old male and not Liberal

B.M.
said

Well, there goes again the Liberals & NDP's are trying to make sound that Bernier is a Criminal. Must be desperation! Liberals & NDP's are just looking for a reason to damage the Government's reputation so they can gain some political points. Bernier is not merried he can date who he wants. He didn't commited adultery. He made a mistake pick up the wrong women. So what? How many people in this world never make a mistake. Shame on you Liberal, UJJAl DOSANJH calling an inquiry just to waist Canadian Tax Payers money which doesn't make any since. Would be an inquiry about she said, he said. Why UJJAL doesn't go and dig out the money that is still missing from the sponsirship scandal. Well, that would make more since and would help tax payers & the economy.

Brison offended
said

I am so shocked by this story he is running around with some bimbo, he briefing paper about his overseas meeting with a foreign leader and the times could of been used by photographers or somebody to ruin the event, this would never happen to the liberals who stear clear of women like this, that had a boyfiend biker turned police informant so the bikers are mad at her.

Frank Where is the pictures???
said

I don't want to see another article on this story, without pictures of Julie!

Alb
said

Harper is no PM, he's governor Harper, governor of Canada, the 51st state of the U.S.A.

Richarde
said

The Liberal backers try to convince us that the Adscam project was just moving a few dollars and that only two people were ever accused and convicted because of it. Hello, it involved 33 million tax payer dollars..Oh, tell me again that the top brass in the Liebral party didn't know anything about what was going on and it was a good move by Mr Martin to call the Gomery inquiry...What aobut Shawinigate and the fibs told like cancelling the GST etc. etc ... I know that Harper and company have made some dumb mistakes but at least they didn't steal our tax money to fill up their coffers. I'll vote for Stephan Harper ten times before voting for wishy washy or economic spoilers on the other side.

??????
said

Anyone who has any understanding of either the role of the department of foreign affairs and international trade (DFAIT)or the handling of secret or classified information, knows what a circus this is. Does anyone believe that DFAIT was or is in posession of documents vital to or essential to the war in Afghanistan? As for secret and sensitive documents, they don't usually leave the office and must be signed for. Talking points, announcements and public updates are all kept secret until they are to be released. This is so no one steals the governments thunder and so that media buzz doesn't come and go ahead of planned disclosure. For people to say that this is more embarassing for Canada then the sponsorship scandal or not having sufficiently equiped our soldiers in the former Yugoslavia is absurd. This should not have happened and the minister resigned, but he could only resign once. So my question is what would we wish to determine about this incident through a public inquiry that we do not already know?

Justin T.
said

Unless they catch you with a dead girl or a live boy, your political career will do fine in the world.

Roxy: Sorry USA, we have our own Scandal
said

Finally have a scandal, the USA had JFK with Marilyn Monroe and Bill Clinton with Monica Lewinsky.

We finally have our own scandal, yeah for Canda we are an emerging super power. :)

M. Cameron
said

Having a Conservative government is what hurts this country.

BB in B.C.
said

The Lieberals are sure tossing out the catch phrases often these days. Calling the Conservatives "Cons" and constantly throwing the "Bush" card on the table. They attack Harper with venom. This is the same party that picked Dion then when they realized he wasn't the "winner" they struggle to bring Harper down to his level. I have voted Liberal in the past but when I see Harper in action I see the best PM we've had in my lifetime and I'm an old guy. I was glued to the TV during the sponsorship scandal but the Bernier affair was handled properly and it just goes to show how deep the Lieberals have to dig to get headlines. The election needs to wait until 2009 and we will hopefully elect adults who will govern instead of fools who burn our money.

Lillian
said

Calling Harper "Bush Jr." has become very tiresome. And it is childish also. PM Harper ,it seems to me, is quite capable of making decisions on his own. Why would he need any assistance from "a lame duck" president? I don't see the cosiness there that we saw with Chretien and Clinton. Ah! but then they were Liberals. So it's okay to be buddies.

Robert
said

Canada's reputation has been tarnished ever since the Harper gang was elected!!

Heck,this whole PC government is an embarrassment to Canada. Especially Bush jr.

Spencer
said

Liberal and Conservatives are one in the same. The Liberals got caught skimming cash for advertising while the Conservatives misappropiated election money. However, like the Harris Tories, Harper's gang is unable to restrain themselves when in the company of attractive women. Keep in mind that Couliarrd's company recieved government contracts when she dated govenemnt officials. Liberals, Conservatives, both the same, they just wear different suits.

Ian
said

On May 25, Bernier's chief of staff was informed about the missing documents from Couillard's lawyers. The documents were returned that day, along with a handwritten note from Couillard, the report says.

The next day, Couillard was interviewed on television and revealed the missing document bombshell to the public. Bernier resigned the same day.

Now,if I remember right she did the interview on a Sunday night yet Bernier's chief of staff knew the documents were missing the Saturday before and the Minister resigned on the Monday, 48 hrs after the chief of staff knew the documents were missing. Now the PM stated late on the monday he never knew anything about this. This I doubt very much. but he accepted Bernier's resignation. Something smells very fishy here

Bill Guy
said

david
(or whoever you are? ) to minimize this very serious breach of our own and NATO's security, betrays a serious lack of understanding on your part and/ or an attempt to distract other readers from the seriousness of this whole affair. I agree with those who believe that the only way for this deploreable episode in Canadain history to be fully resolved is for our national investigative force(the RCMP)to officially look into it. Then all parties (including but not limited to, Ms. Couillard) could be interviewed and all of the facts would then be known. Until a full RCMP investigation is done, any recommendations that would make sure that all parts of the Federal Government that were involved in this breach of national and NATO security (including the part played by Dept. of Foreign Affairs staff) take corrective action, would not be complete.
For the Harper Government to continue to resist this kind of open and complete investigation, continues to compromise Canada's security and reputation in the world.

Kevin in NB
said

Bernier may have hurt our rep but Bush Jr is the biggest embarassment.

The Voice of Reason
said

You CON fanatics repeatedly amuse me with your complete lack of understanding about the sponsorship scandal. It's not surprising that with your lack of education that you would try to blame an entire party for what TWO people within the party did. It was Paul Martin who called the inquiry, and it was he who dismissed the people involved and left it up to the law what to do with them. So in other words, the people involved were dismissed, and when the Liberals do this, they are a "corrupt party", but when Harper accepts the regination (not dismissal) of an incompetant git who breached national security and trust (which is why it is FAR worse than sponsorship which is a purely INTERNAL matter), he's "taking care of business".

Your hypocrisy is almost amusing.... almost. But like I said... keep spin doctoring. It's what the Con party is now Internationally known for.

Facts vs I don't Know What
said

Gregorchuk says:

"people are over reacting to Bernier leaving some documents and his girlfriends house, ministers do this all the time but it isnt reported so i dont think a full public inquirery is warranted in this situation. "

ARE YOU JOKING? Do you know for a fact that Ministers are constantly leaving classified documents at people's houses and not noticing for weeks at a time??? Do you have any proof of this???

Give me a break, what a dumb comment.

Give Me a Break!
said

WOW what a whitewash indeed!

Couillard may have put herself in jeopardy? You have got to be kidding me. You have here a minister that refused to admit this relationship included some potential security risks. A minister who failed to immediately take action when he should have noticed the documents went missing - I mean how careless are you when you not only forget documents, but then not notice right away? And a now former minister who has failed to apologize for his actions, but the report done by the Conservative Foreign Affairs Dept. dares to suggest that Mme. Couillard may share in some blame??? Where is the Conservative's accountability?

This is a party that ran almost exclusively in the last election on ACCOUNTABILITY.

They have since misplaced documents that their own Foreign Affairs Dept. says hurt our reputation around the world (this isn't spin, this is their own report that they held onto for a few days until the evening before the August long-weekend).

This is a gov't who flip-flopped on accords with the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland & Labrador, flip-flopped on income trusts, flip-flopped on their own environment legislation (try, try and try again is the theme on the environment), and flip-flopped on Afghan detainees being tortured in violation of basic human rights - as though we would ever, ever put up with anyone torturing a Canadian citizen.

This also a government that has taken Elections Canada to court because the completely independent organization has laid charges of electoral fraud against Conservative Party members. They have since tried to smear Elections Canada as a Liberal friendly government institution despite the current Chief Electoral Officer being a HARPER APPOINTEE.

Now, I know this post will be attacked from the right, but I want to make one thing clear. Conservatives are still talking about a sponsorship scandal worth a few million dollars over a decade where a judicial inquiry, the Auditor General, and federal prosecutors now convicting individuals involved have still not - not the courts, not the prosecutors, not the inquiry, not the Auditor General - directly linked any elected Liberal politician. And it is not as though a direct link to any elected Liberal official has not be looked for hard by a whole lot of people. Now I am in no way saying the sponsorship scandal didn't deserve the scrutiny and judical consideration it has and is still receiveing, because it did and anyone who defrauds other Canadians by stealing tax payer's money should be brought to justice. I am merely saying put it all in perspective when it was the Conservatives who ran almost exclusively on the idea that they are the clean cut, accountabile party in Canada.

The Harper Government - A Government of Accountability - A Government that can do nothing wrong and when wrong is done, no matter how long they have been in office, it is still the fault of 13 years of Liberal governance.

Way to go Harper, you've made us all proud!

a
said

wowwww comparing the sponshorship scandal to this my god the liberals these days have truly lost thier mind.....he made a mistake let hime move on, she was his girl friend im prety suree everyone heree left somthing at a thier partners hosue and yes i know this is compeltly different but he made a mistake and paid for it lets move onn....shows howw imteresting canadian politics these days

Former liberal
said

Yes it is serious..but at least no one made personal financial gains like the liberals did.....and a heck of a lot more of them in other ways...and it went on for years...the Tories are refreshing other wise and will be in power for a while....the political landscape is changing..thanks to DION

juli
said

that his true scandal conservative

Spencer
said

This is a scandal. Bernier's "girlfriend" had previous ties to organized crime and this in itself is quite troubling. CSIS knew of her background and yet raised no warning flags. I don't believe it for a minute. Harper made a huge error in judgement in appointing Bernier to a high profile post which required the utmost in integrity. Of course this scandal has tarnished the reputation of our government in the eyes of the world.
Not Couliard's fault, the blame falls on the shoulders of Harper. As the saying goes "we are responsible for our kids and their actions"

stop the lies
said

HAHA are you serious "the voice of reason" The sponsorship scandle was about a corrupt government using your tax dollars to illegally support their party and garner favour. The bernier scandle is about a dumb man who left secret documents at his gold digger girlfriends house. Corruption vs stupidity. and you think stupidity is worse..... some voice of reason you are. Or shall I call you the voice of the Liberals.
PS... I voted liberal my entire life before the last election.

Darren
said

I have to agree with "The Voice of Reason." The sponsorship scandal did not harm our reputation in NATO. And as "MHB" states, our current inaction on global warming and Omar Khadr makes us look like an American puppet. Would Harper have had the "cojones" to not join the US in attacking Iraq in 2003? I truly doubt it. Things would be a lot different, and a lot worse, if Canada had blindly followed America in 2003. And many more of our troops would be in graves.

Gregorchuk
said

people are over reacting to Bernier leaving some documents and his girlfriends house, ministers do this all the time but it isnt reported so i dont think a full public inquirery is warranted in this situation. And to reply to MHB why on earth do we want to bring back Omar Khadr to Canada he made the choice to go to afganistan and fight with the taliban against CANADA hes nothin more than a traitor in my book

Craig
said

The voice of reason: Are you kidding me? This is bigger than the sponsorship scandal?

How many inquiries have we seen that already tell us what we already know.

1. Maxime Bernier left documents at Julie Couillard's house.
2. Couillard did not return them for a number of weeks.
3. Couillard had links to the mob
4. Bernier did not know of her links but he should have.

What else is there to say? But now Ujjal Dosanjh is trying to play politics by calling for another inquiry.
--------

But I ask you. Besides the day after, where has this story appeared outside of Canada? Leaders repeatedly praise Harper's government regarding international affairs.

This flies in the face of your "FACTs".

And how is this bigger than the sponsorship scandal? I don't think one minister forgetting some minor documents even compares to multiple Liberal party executives using plain, brown envelopes filled with cash as bribes for party donations.

Weiss
said

I'm sorry, "voice of reason"?? How is poor handling of documents that aren't "significant to the national interest" WORSE than the sponsorship scandal?

One is an embarassing personal misstep for which a minister rightly resigned.

The other is systemic corruption that cost taxpayers millions in misappropriated funds, plus the cost of the investigation.

Thanks, but if I have to choose between political scandals, I'll pick the one that is a) not illegal and b) not an enormous waste of my money

Neilpk
said

Time for all of the Conservative apologists to start saying "who cares what a bunch of foreigners think?"

We need a new government
said

MHB is exactly right on every point. Bernier's mistake is barely a blip on the radar compared to all the other outrages Canada has been involved in and continues to be involved in with this neoconservative gang running the show on parliament hill. The only positive thing about the situation is that their powers are limited by their minority rule. Thank goodness for that.

We are a nation run by war-loving Bush/Rove emulating politicians who have taken things way too far. It's a disgrace. Canada can do a lot better than this.

Sandra
said

Please not another boring public inquiry with no substance.
The Opposition parties should start to stop looking for scandals and pay more attention to the important problems that this country has.

Gren
said

I wonder how damaging the sposnorship scandal was to our reputation?

I think this pales by comparison...

At least it wasn't adultery and didn't involve an intern or someone he had authority over...

I wonder how much our reputation was damaged after someone broke into the PM's residence...?

Or when the PM's wife went partying with the rolling stones?

My goodness, the guy made a mistake, hooked up with the wrong gal...not like that has happended to anyone before...

When Clinton abused his power over an Intern, cheated on his wife in the whitehouse evryone in Canada was saying give the guy a break...In that case, there was harm and foul...in Berniers case no harm no foul...

The opposition parties need to get over this crap and get onto something with substance...oh wait...disregard...;)

Dan From Toronto
said

At the end of the day, it was Harper's mistake to appoint an incompetent rookie Bernier (which he did to gain votes in Quebec) to one of the most senior post in Canadian government.

The Coullard affair will be remembered for a long time but lets not forget all the other gaffs this guy made.

Doug BC
said

I'm afraid I have to agree with "david".this was a huge,non story about a minister who make a careless error,and resigned his cabinet position because of it.Ho-hum.
It appear that Paul Dewar and Ujjal Dosanjh thik spending taxpayer dollars on a overpriced inquitry will alter the reality of exactly what happened here.Frankly,I thought inquiries were more about incidents i which the chain of events is unclear.
Or,heaven forbid,could this be an effort to improve Liberal fortunes in the fall?

The Voice of Reason
said

Spoken like a true Con, david. This is a much bigger scandal than the sponsorhship ordeal, but I don't see you Cons shutting up about that any time soon. So, please, continue to spin doctor the incompetence of your party - the FACT is, Bernier and Harper have repeatedly damaged our International reputation.

MHB
said

Is this the only thing hurting Canada's reputation?. I do not think so. The things damaging our reputation are numerous and they include blindly supporting the US/Israel policies, betraying our committments towards reducing global warming, leaving Omar Khadr to rot in Gitmo despite all our hollow talk about rehabilitating children soldiers, and more recently the scandal of dropping sexual assault charges against white males under silly pretexts because the victim was just a muslim girl!. The list is long and what Bernier did is the least important of all this!.

david
said

Wow! What a scandal. Face it folks, this country is boring.

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