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Canada's foreign minister resigns Canada FM quits for security slip
(about 7 hours later)
Canada's foreign minister has resigned after he admitted leaving classified documents in an unsafe place. Canada's foreign minister, Maxime Bernier, has resigned after he admitted leaving classified documents in what he called "a non-secure location".
Maxime Bernier's resignation has been accepted by Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper. His former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, told Canadian media the papers had been left at her flat in Montreal in April.
He said Canada's International Trade Minister, David Emerson, would serve as interim foreign affairs minister. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was a serious security breach.
Mr Bernier had been criticised in recent weeks amid allegations that a former girlfriend had relationships with men connected to organized crime. Mr Bernier had been under pressure to quit after it emerged that Ms Couillard had previous relationships with men connected to organised crime.
"Minister Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified government documents in a non-secure location," said Mr Harper."Minister Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified government documents in a non-secure location," said Mr Harper.
"This is a serious error. (He) has accepted his responsibilities in offering to resign.""This is a serious error. (He) has accepted his responsibilities in offering to resign."
TV disclosures?TV disclosures?
The announcement came hours before an interview with Mr Bernier's former girlfriend, Julie Couillard, was shown on Canadian television. The announcement came hours before an interview with Ms Couillard was shown on Canadian television.
It is a very serious mistake regardless of who the minister is, regardless of personal life Prime Minister Stephen HarperIt is a very serious mistake regardless of who the minister is, regardless of personal life Prime Minister Stephen Harper
She said that Mr Bernier had come to her flat in April and forgotten a document there.She said that Mr Bernier had come to her flat in April and forgotten a document there.
"He came to my place, then he left, and the document remained with me," she told the French-language TVA network."He came to my place, then he left, and the document remained with me," she told the French-language TVA network.
It has not been revealed what the document contained, nor whether any other party saw it.It has not been revealed what the document contained, nor whether any other party saw it.
Ms Couillard said she returned it to the government via a lawyer.Ms Couillard said she returned it to the government via a lawyer.
Ms Couillard, 38, who had attended Mr Bernier's 2007 swearing-in as foreign minister, had officially been designated as his "spouse" so she could join him on official trips overseas.Ms Couillard, 38, who had attended Mr Bernier's 2007 swearing-in as foreign minister, had officially been designated as his "spouse" so she could join him on official trips overseas.
But her earlier connection with motorcycle gangs did not become public knowledge until later, and the couple reportedly broke up some months ago. It only recently emerged publicly that Ms Couillard had been married to a member of a Quebec motorcycle gang and had dated another biker before that.
She has at no point been accused of any wrongdoing.
Ms Couillard and Mr Bernier broke up earlier this year.
Mr Harper denied the resignation had any connection to the "minister's private life".Mr Harper denied the resignation had any connection to the "minister's private life".
"This is about one thing and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents," he said."This is about one thing and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents," he said.
"I have no intention to comment on a minister's former girlfriend," he added."I have no intention to comment on a minister's former girlfriend," he added.
But a member of parliament for the opposition Liberals, Ralph Goodale, said the prime minister had "a lot of explaining to do".But a member of parliament for the opposition Liberals, Ralph Goodale, said the prime minister had "a lot of explaining to do".
Mr Bernier, who was appointed to the role last August, is the first minister to resign from Mr Harper's cabinet under a cloud since the Conservatives came to power in January 2006 elections.Mr Bernier, who was appointed to the role last August, is the first minister to resign from Mr Harper's cabinet under a cloud since the Conservatives came to power in January 2006 elections.
He had earlier courted controversy when he publicly suggested that Afghan President Hamid Karzai replace the governor of Kandahar province, where Canada has 2,500 troops stationed.He had earlier courted controversy when he publicly suggested that Afghan President Hamid Karzai replace the governor of Kandahar province, where Canada has 2,500 troops stationed.
Canada's International Trade Minister, David Emerson, is to serve as interim foreign affairs minister.