http://thechronicleherald.ca/Canada/1058362.html By Alexander Panetta The Canadian Press May 27, 2008 OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has accepted the resignation of his embattled foreign affairs minister over an apparent security breach involving cabinet documents. Harper told an extraordinary news conference on Parliament Hill on Monday evening that Maxime Bernier’s controversial relationship with a woman linked to the Hells Angels was not a factor in the decision. But the resignation came as Julie Couillard was about to go to air on the French-language television station TVA to say that her former lover was careless with classified documents. "This is about one thing and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents," Harper said in the Commons foyer. "It is a very serious mistake — regardless of who the minister is, regardless of personal life — to leave classified documents in an unsecured location." A source told The Canadian Press that Bernier left an extremely sensitive classified document at Couillard’s apartment, and her lawyer notified the Foreign Affairs Department about the document on the weekend. Nonetheless, just hours before the axe fell on Bernier, the prime minister had dismissed the whole affair. "I have no intention to comment on a minister’s former girlfriend," the prime minister said to wrap up a news conference earlier Monday with visiting Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko. "I don’t take this subject seriously." He’s taking it seriously now. The prime minister announced that David Emerson, the international trade minister, will take over as interim foreign affairs minister. Harper left late Monday night on a European diplomatic trip. Opposition MPs were baying for further details that could prove extremely embarrassing for the Conservative government. Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said Harper has been "very dismissive" of the Bernier-Couillard affair for weeks. "That raises some questions about his judgment," Goodale said of the prime minister. Bernier has been under fire for a series of gaffes in his role as Canada’s top diplomat, and the revelation that his former girlfriend of the past year had once been romantically linked to several men with links to the Hells Angels had security experts — and political opponents — asking whether she had undergone a security check. The question remains unanswered. NDP Leader Jack Layton said the latest revelation was "the straw that broke the camel’s back" for Bernier’s cabinet career. _______________________________________________ Attend Black Hat USA, August 2-7 in Las Vegas, the world's premier technical event for ICT security experts. Featuring 40 hands-on training courses and 80 Briefings presentations with lots of new content and new tools. Network with 4,000 delegates from 50 nations. Visit product displays by 30 top sponsors in a relaxed setting. http://www.blackhat.com
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