ST-GEORGES, Que. _ Text of a statement released Wednesday by Maxime Bernier:
Last Monday, I informed the prime minister of my resignation as Canada’s minister of foreign affairs as soon as I became aware of a security breach whereby I forgot confidential government documents at Ms. Julie Couillard’s residence. With humility, I take full and sole responsibility for my actions.
I also express regret over the negative impact caused by recent events on Ms. Couillard’s private life. Furthermore, I refuse to discuss private affairs in a public forum.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada can always count on my loyalty. I wish to thank my colleagues for their support. I will perform my functions of member of Parliament for Beauce with commitment, conviction and integrity.
I was deeply touched by the support I received from the Beauce constituency. I will continue to serve and represent them with honour and pride.
54 comments ↓
Garth,
Can we nominate MacKinnon for the Order of Canada? Another brilliant ‘toon.
I am really pleased to see Mr. Harper has appointed a seasoned and mature person in Mr, Emerson as Foreign Affairs Minister and hopefully this will be permanent. While I think Mr. Emerson’s floor crossing was disgraceful, at this point, the country needs a Foreign Minister that will not make the mistakes that have been made over the past year. I trust that he will do that and bring some semblance of integrity back to Canada. Country before politics!
Maxime only became aware of the security breach on Monday? He didn’t know he was not to share confidential information with others who have not been cleared to view such, and even so didn’t know he left the info until it was exposed? What an embarassment to our country he was. Hopefully he will be remembered as the worst Foreign Affairs minister Canada has ever had. I would hate to see someone top the serious gaffes he has done.
Private matter – Imagine being so loose with security matters – how do the Canadian families of the victims of 9/11 feel that Harper finds this all too boring and not interested in where documents go and who’s hands they land in.
Your turn to see Harper change musical instruments and attempt to fiddle around the facts that BEG THE question of an Accounting of all documents that are alleged to be missing as whom is kidding whom surely where not left on a coffee table and the FLEA BITTEN so well described is accurate to wondering what morsels are burried for future selling of ones property. YOU MUST KNOW SOmETHING RE THE COMMENTS OF BUSH LAST YEAR ” KEEPING INTERESTING COMPANY” HOW DID HE KNOW AND NOT OUR RCMP.??? SEEMS ONLY THE SURFACE IS SCRATCHED HA!!
GARTH HERE IS AN OPPERTUNITY TO QUESTION ON YOUR TERMS OTHER ISSUES SUCH AS GMO BT BACILLUS THRUINGIENSIS BACTERIA LASED PRODUCTS. i have dome an extensive review and find that MONSANTO HAVE CHANGED THE MEANING OF GMO AND ADMIT IN CLEAR STATEMENTS RECORDED IN THE PATENT.note the plant is not resistant it is lethal carries a strain of Anthrax with anactivator of a strain of ecoli leading to prions BSE CWD in deer to cats and dogs and CCD of bees. “FLEAS IF ONE CAN FIND ANY HUMOUR ON THIS INCLUDNG A FEW BUTTER FLIES AND SPIDERS
Garth this is real. I have 500 pages of research that I am just putting into a nutshell report.all the best George.
By wjp on 05.28.08 5:34 pm
Emerson is not a popular guy in Vancouver Centre.
Please remember he crossed the floor two weeks after his election as a Liberal.
Apparently, the Conservativea are looking for a safe seat for him in the Prince George area. I think the Conservative Party fails to realize how viseral BC feels about Mr. Emerson’s convenient truth.
Seriously, do they really think the guy who brought in the not-so-great-forestry-settlement-thingy is going to work for unemployed forestry workers?
Dude Mr. Emerson, you’ve been “Punked”.
at this point, the country needs a Foreign Minister that will not make the mistakes that have been made over the past year. I trust that he will do that and bring some semblance of integrity back to Canada. Country before politics!
By wjp on 05.28.08 5:34 pm
I would agree but I’m not so sure he was mistake free when he negotiated the softwood lumber deal.
I’m no expert on that agreement because there’s probably only 3 or 4 people in North America that understand it, BUT, I think it was a mistake to let the American gov’t keep one billion dollars of what they owed us. I believe that billion dollar bonus eventually went to US lumber producers. Can’t confirm.
And it’s not over yet.
Two weeks ago:
U.S. Congress passes bill to tie up Canadian lumber imports in red tape
15/05/08 @ 03:13:33 pm, by Admin
Categories: Softwood Lumber Dispute
Specifically, the U.S. is claiming that Canada has failed to fully collect the required border taxes, including surge taxes on exports from British Columbia and Alberta; failed to properly administer the export quota system; and failed to stop providing new tax payer-funded subsidies to its industry.
To be fair, I’m not placing 100% blame on Emmerson, but in his haste to get things done for Harpie, he faired no better than his predessesors.
And now we are being accused by the Americans for not complying with the agreement.
What now? Sounds like his department has dropped the ball and once again the Americans have got an excuse.
Personally, my deal would have been along the lines of ” if you want our oil, you’ll take our lumber , no strings”
Sign here:
Bernier’s latest actually makes it worse. He did not know about a missing classified document for 5 weeks? Foreign Affairs forgot about it too? Who comes up with this stuff?
Personally, my deal would have been along the lines of ” if you want our oil, you’ll take our lumber , no strings”
Sign here:
By Ron p on 05.28.08 6:23 pm
I would agree with that Ron, no one would like to see the CPC gone more that I would, however while they are in power, I would prefer someone like Emerson in Foreign Affairs than the rookies from Quebec just to buy votes. He just is the best of a bad lot and they are a bad and dishonest lot, but having said that, on the stage of foreign affairs, we need someone mature and qualified until we can get a real government in Ottawa.
WARNING HAZARDOUS BULLSHIT AHEAD!
By Bill-Muskoka on 05.28.08 5:30 pm
Also known as the “BOVINE EXCREMENT METER” — BEM for short!
Secondly, it is a well-established fact that CRAPpers cannot see beyond the end of their noses.
These are the dumbasses that attempt to run this country? Not for much longer!
I also express regret over the negative impact caused by recent events on Ms. Couillard’s private life. Furthermore, I refuse to discuss private affairs in a public forum.
Refuse to discuss?
Who the heck does he think he is and who wrote his statement?
It better be discussed whether he likes it or not, it’s not his choice.
He just doesn’t get it.
We sense that there’s more to this story and I for one would like to hear it.
Can you spot the bimbo in this picture?
http://caiti-online.blogspot.com/2008/05/can-you-spot-bimbo-in-this-picture.html
Garth,
I’m copying from Men With Hats and others, and a newspaper article. With all the news and information we have now, about the GMO dominance trend, is it too late or can our Canadian government help stop the inevitability of this Canadian and world situation? Looks like we’re within short reach of this.
- – -
Control of world’s food supply at stake
“Since the dawn of civilization, farmers have saved seeds from the harvest and replanted them the following year.
But makers of genetically modified (GM) seeds — introduced in 1996 and now grown by some 70,000 Canadian farmers, according to Monsanto, the world’s largest seed company — have been putting a stop to that practice..”
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=1be275ca-cd91-4bfc-96a6-f311f7514bb4
- – -
“For decades the same interests, including the Rockefeller Foundation which backed the initial Green Revolution, have worked to promote a second “Gene Revolution” – the spread of industrial agriculture and commercial inputs including GMO patented seeds”
“Today’s largest plant breeders are Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and Dow Chemical—the global plant-patenting GMO giants. Since early in 2007, Monsanto holds world patent rights together with the U.S. government for so-called “Terminator” seeds or “Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT).” Terminator is an ominous technology by which a patented commercial seed commits “suicide” after one harvest. Control by private seed companies is total. Such control and power over the food chain has never before in the history of mankind existed”
“If broadly introduced around the world it could, within perhaps a decade or so, make the majority of food producers feudal serfs in bondage to the world’s giant seed companies”
“We need seed collectors around the world to collect seeds that have not been mutated genetically. That is the only chance we have to maintain a non-Frankenstinian food chain”
This is more frightening than the Manhatten project that gave us the ‘A’ bomb. It affects every human on the planet.
BY MEN WITH HATS 05.24.08 4:09 PM
- –
Go back and read entire post by MEN WITH HATS 05.24.08 4:09 PM
Amazing reading.. a start.
“We have all the oil we need within our own borders, even excluding Alaska, Texas and the Gulf of Mexico, much of it extractable at $16 per barrel, . . .”
Wouldn’t it be comforting to have oil at $16 / brl!
This is from the link which follows; the report looks at the looming inflation debacle.
Other links I posted a while back stated the ‘hidden’ inflation rate in the US now runs 10-15%; folk only get to see the msm version.
http://tinyurl.com/3q4995
Bernier’s latest actually makes it worse. He did not know about a missing classified document for 5 weeks? Foreign Affairs forgot about it too? Who comes up with this stuff?
By Anonymous on 05.28.08 6:45 pm
It makes us all wonder.
Today Van Loonie said that this CPC “acted quickly” on this matter.
I guess his definition of quick is something like 5 weeks.
Hope he doesn’t drive for if he ever had to make a quick decision to avoid an accident….
The revealing ARROGANCE of this quote:
“MP Royal Galipeau (Ottawa-Orleans), a deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, said government secrecy is “mostly something that the chattering classes like to complain about”
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/431368
Unbelievable. The people of Canada have figured out that throughout history, a secretive government is up to no good.
Galipeau is a coward. She knows not, her history. Here’s an example of a hero: (Worth your 45 mins) “Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot” University of Washington”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc
House Of Commons @ Approx. 8:00 PM EDT
Flaherty has just blatantly lied to Ontarians, and Canadians, that he actually left a surplus in Ontario when he was an MPP.
Of course, the FACT is that he left an approx. $5.6 billion DEFICIT.
Not news, I know, but just another current example of BLATANT LIES and DECEIT by Dim Jim and Deceivin’ Stephen’s CONS.
Is there no shame.
I suppose, according to the CON doctrine, it wouldn’t even matter if Boner-Head Bernier was dating Karla Homolka!
In case some missed this story, or perhaps originally pooh-poohed the NAFTA-Gate Conservative-Republican connection…
—————————————-
Signs Point To PMO In NAFTA Leak
Controversial memo slipped to Republican, several sources say
May 27, 2008 04:30 AM
James Travers
National Affairs Columnist
OTTAWA–Fingers are pointing at Conservatives close to Stephen Harper for leaking a diplomatic memo that badly embarrassed Barack Obama and put Canada’s vital cross-border interests at risk. Multiple sources say the Canadian note questioning the Democrat frontrunner’s public promise to reopen NAFTA was leaked from the Prime Minister’s Office to a Republican contact before it made American headline news.
Their claims come days after an internal probe threw up its hands at finding the source. Contradicting Friday’s inconclusive report, they claim the controversial memo was slipped to the son of Wisconsin Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner. Frank Sensenbrenner is well connected to Harper’s inner circle and, at Ottawa’s insistence, was briefly on contract with Canada’s Washington embassy to work on congressional relations.
Contacted yesterday morning, Frank Sensenbrenner did not seem surprised and agreed to an afternoon interview. But he did not call at the agreed time and did not respond to repeated emails.
A determined reader will find many of the dots – but not the conclusion – in the probe report strategically released on the cusp of a spring weekend. It confirms a few U.S. citizens could have been in contact with government officials who had the report, but finds no evidence of irregularities. Instead, the report makes a distracting fuss about clearing Ian Brodie, the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, and Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador in Washington, of revealing classified information that never carried that secretive label.
What the report conspicuously avoids is following the suspicious trail from the PMO to America’s dominant newswire service, the Associated Press, through a Republican conduit. Instead of fulfilling Harper’s pledge to trace the source, the report by Kevin Lynch, Canada’s top civil servant and Harper’s deputy minister, blames bureaucrats for circulating the memo too widely and failing to identify the information as classified
That badly misses the point and obscures the motive. Identifying the information as more sensitive would not have stopped the leak as long as Conservatives in high places were willing to help soulmate Republicans by rolling the dice on Canada’s most important relationship. Getting the diplomatic memo to the U.S. media was pivotal in amplifying a small Canadian story into big American political news. The interpretation by Canadian diplomats that Obama was speaking out of both sides of his mouth on free trade is widely believed to have damaged his prospects in the Ohio primary and distracted Democrats to Republican advantage.
“This was a very deliberate piece of business for political purpose,” one of the sources said. “It puts political ideology ahead of what’s good for the country.”
Now that Obama is the presumptive Democrat candidate, concern is again rising in Ottawa that Canada-U.S. relations will be strained if he wins the presidency in November. That risk was not as great – but should still have been self-evident – in March, when Brodie’s loose and ultimately inaccurate remarks alerted reporters that a U.S. campaign had allegedly told Canadian diplomats not to worry too much about NAFTA being reopened.
Even then the controversy might well have been short-lived and mostly contained to Canada if the Associated Press had not been faxed what the Lynch report confirms was an essentially complete copy of the memo. Among the few significant changes discovered by investigators but not reported was a determined effort to obscure the source and timing of the fax.
The PMO was not on the original foreign affairs distribution list. An analyst in Lynch’s office gave the memo to a PMO official on Feb. 27 who then shared it with a colleague. A day later it was passed to Brodie. There is no evidence Brodie forwarded the memo himself, but by noon March 2 AP was in touch with the embassy seeking clarification.
In another tactical leak, word that Brodie plans to leave his post this summer trickled out last week, a day before the Lynch report. As Conservatives apparently intended, that sucked much of the steam out of the issue and distracted attention from an investigation that is as unsatisfying as a whodunit that never reveals who did it.
In failing to plumb the leak, the report effectively protects the ruling party from awkward questions. With an election not far in the future, voters might reasonably ask if Conservatives put this country’s seminal relationship at risk to give Republicans a helping hand.
James Travers is the Star’s national affairs columnist.
Maxime only became aware of the security breach on Monday? He didn’t know he was not to share confidential information with others who have not been cleared to view such, and even so didn’t know he left the info until it was exposed? What an embarassment to our country he was. Hopefully he will be remembered as the worst Foreign Affairs minister Canada has ever had. I would hate to see someone top the serious gaffes he has done.
By Marc on 05.28.08 5:48 pm
It seems that Bernier and the DFAIT are a bunch of baffoons. Bernier had to sign out the documents. Why was it that DFAIT never went after Bernier to check these docs back in? Seems that Stephen Harper made the right decision about Bernier and now he needs to clean house in DFAIT. Rid them of the beuracratic baffoons.
Garth: Who wrote that letter?
By Charles Oxley on 05.28.08 7:05 pm
Thank you for the reference.
Whereas, Garth has established a specific topic on this issue, and
Whereas the issue has ‘staying power’. And I, being a caring fellow citizen want to do my part to keep my fellow Canadians ‘abreast’ of the situation, shall, therefore, re-iterate my prior comment regarding the ‘Adventures of Max in the Temple of the Forbidden Whosee’ (Appearing on You-Tube soon to be sure!) [Note: While this may be construed as an 'udder' failure, the crux of the matter remains well entrenched in the 'shorts' of the immediately former Minister, who Boldly went where no thinking man would dare go!]
WARNING HAZARDOUS BULLSHIT AHEAD!
The Apology: Statement By Maxime Bernier
If his foresight is longer than his willy I would be surprised. At least he got this part right:
I refuse to discuss private affairs in a public forum.
Yes, Max, it was an AFFAIR! An Affair of State, and you were both stupid and wrong to do it! You have more concern for your ‘affair’ than you do National Secrets, and a memory shorter than your foreskin apparently. Bye, Bye Birdbrain!
Better stay away from Vic Toews as well…he has Peter Problems too! This hard one will last a lot longer than FOUR HOURS! So much for ‘Blue’ things!’
Look it up in ‘Wiki’ pedia…cause your Wick has gotten you the ‘full measure of consequences!’
Is there no shame.
By Robert Gibbs on 05.28.08 7:45 pm
No merely ‘Sham!’ Not to be confused with ‘Shazzam!’
Garth: Who wrote that letter?
By AToryNoMore on 05.28.08 8:43 pm
‘Scuze me! I should ask, who wrote that statement?
Of course, the FACT is that he left an approx. $5.6 billion DEFICIT.
Not news, I know, but just another current example of BLATANT LIES and DECEIT by Dim Jim and Deceivin’ Stephen’s CONS.
Is there no shame.
By Robert Gibbs on 05.28.08 7:45 pm
And how was this “deficit” done. Well first McGuinty increased the expenditures and then underestimated the revenues.
Check out the Ontario budgets and compare them from year to year. Not exactly rocket science to deceive you Liberal lemmings, eh?
While what Mr. Bernier did in private is none of anyone’s business. However leaving confidential documents in an unsecure place is an absolute no-no, and is the whole of Canada’s business and even the rest of the world’s if the information pertains to them, regardless of where he left them.
Secondly, he says he advised the PM of his resignation on Monday when he became aware of the breach. The breach happened 5 weeks ago. I know when I can’t find something I had the day before. In other words, he didn’t consider these documents important; he took the documents in his briefcase and didn’t want to look at them again for 5 weeks. Incredulous!
The probability is he realised he’d messed up weeks ago and it was only when Ms.Couillard was interviewed on TV, he figured out the game was up.
The question is did the PM know about it weeks ago? I would think a private citizen returning sensitive Foreign Affairs documents would make it to the PMO daily briefing.
By Catherine on 05.28.08 8:48 pm
Wrong again.
The books, left by Mr. Flaherty were audited. The impartial auditor determined that Mr. Flaherty had used non accepted accounting principles when determining his surplus. When the numbers were restated to use accepted principles, principles that every other government uses, the reality was a deficit.
I trust someone pointed this out to Dim Jim.
I tell you, Flaherty is going to have a terrible time getting relected by the affluent north end Oshawa people.
Just watching Mr Flaherty NOT answer any income trust questions this evening as he appears to account for his governments financial policies.
The guy is a disgrace to us all & I am appalled at myself for voting for him in the last election.
Sickening!!!!.
Thanks Garth for trying.
The only solution is the removal of Jim Flaherty & the rest of the Conservative crew who obviously holds it` citizens in contempt.
Dr Mike Popvich—former life-long Conservative.
“I trust someone pointed this out to Dim Jim.”
By James- Chatham on 05.28.08 8:53 pm
—————————————-
On behalf of all Ontarians and TRUTH seekers – as opposed to DECEIVERS – thank you James.
Check out the Ontario budgets and compare them from year to year. Not exactly rocket science to deceive you Liberal lemmings, eh?
By Catherine on 05.28.08 8:48 pm
You know how to read a buget?
As expected, no truthful, honest or substantive answers from Flatulent Flaherty during the HOC Committee tonight, especially concerning the income trust issue.
Thanks for your efforts though, Garth, and those of your Liberal colleagues.
I didn’t catch Van Loan today, but it was certainly a pleasure to listen yesterday when all Opposition parties were on fire, and rather than offering his usual smart-ass non-answers, Van Loan was left blubbering. Kudos to Bob Rae’s “Amateur Hour on the Rideau” remark because that pretty much encapsulates so much of how many I know see this government. I caught Harper’s European news conference and you could hear the seething in his voice when questions about the tour itself took a back seat – make that a remote corner of the trunk – to questions about Bernier. How many hundreds of newspapers world wide was it that took note? And now that the Conservatives have committed to the completely stupid “private lives are private lives” line of defense, there’s no possibility for reversal on that tack. Yet that direction will only drag them down further. Especially when we have the Public Safety Minister, of all positions, endorsing it in spite of real concerns expressed by members of the security community. But what does one expect of a government that tries to retrofit a Trudeau quote that simply does not apply.
In 1967, Pierre Trudeau struck down the anti-sodomy laws that were still in place that made homosexuality a criminal act, offering his now famous quote “There’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.“. So in May 2008, members of the Conservative government borrow that same quote, apparently without fully comprehending its context (or, charitably, hoping that nobody else would), and apply it to Bernier! Then this rallying cry is latched onto by the blind disciples, who by doing so, demonstrate a grasp that one must conclude cannot extend beyond simple slogans. I wonder how many McVety followers repeated it as blind rote. And I wonder how many of those followers think it’s okay for the state to enter into the bedrooms of the nation when it involves homosexuality, endorsing an age of consent threshold of 18 for those individuals when it is only 16 for their heterosexual peers.
So yes like you, I indeed have to wonder. I would think that Van Loan is old enough to know better, so it really does appear that this talking point must be a product of the puerile staff that infest Conservative headquarters who were still decades away from the physical union that would eventually result in their birth, and who know the words, but not their intent.
. . . he took the documents in his briefcase and didn’t want to look at them again for 5 weeks. . . . did the PM know about it weeks ago? . . .
By James- Chatham on 05.28.08 8:50 pm
A few individuals understand harpo’s penchant for unfailing loyalty to him and the party (ask Garth), and being the control freak he is, chances are high that all of his inner sanctum would have known about Bernier’s screw up some time ago.
Unfortunately, most folk are sheeple and couldn’t care less about questioning what did go down.
It is curious why CRAP seems oblivious to the fact that it only takes a few pokes of the memory banks to regurgitate all these scandals, just in time for the election; maybe they view themselves as The Chosen Ones.
****************************************
Funny to see a cat among the pigeons, especially people like Karl Rove.
dubya’s been a great president, hasn’t he?!
http://tinyurl.com/3s5psv
*******************************************
Is it not a govt.’s duty to take care of citizens when disaster strikes?
Yet another of dubya’s veerrryyy long list of abject failures.
I am grateful to be a canuck; even moreso when harpo and CRAP get their marching orders.
http://tinyurl.com/4hhdop
This is an “annoyimg” thing to happen.
Firstly – Max Berniers’s ambience with a Hell’s Angel’s affiiate from her past
BUT ahe could and should not blamed
The quesion is – Government Confidentiality – how it is monitored?
Dr Mike Popvich—former life-long Conservative.
By Dr Mike from Rodney on 05.28.08 9:03 pm
Don’t you mean progressive conservative?
Oh, and there is one more thing I’m wondering about with regards to Bernier. What was the ceremony like when he was stripped of his full-patch membership to the Conservative Cabinet and was returned to being an affiliate? Maybe something like this?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKmJPnAGUJk
♫…What do you do when you’re branded, and you know you’re a man…♫
clap when you’re told vote how you’re told say what you’re told spend as you’re told advertise where you’re told stand for the leader turn your back on outsiders sit down shut up don’t fidget and don’t get me started about how little I care what you think
Aislin’s read on the story…
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/aislin/index.html
Worth the laugh!
Hi Garth.
Is this message I received from Calgary today true?
“Did you hear the good news??? The infamous Bill C-51 has been dropped
totally. They got so many calls and Faxes and emails they couldn’t even
get business done. D. called our Parliamentary Rep. here (Art
Hangar)…his wife goes to a naturopath, so he had pressure on the home front, even!! At least it’s a reprieve for now…I’m sure it will be back another day. Cheers…Rah, rah, rah, etc. Bye for now..J.
I have nothing to substantiate that tonight. — Garth
Oh, Maxime! You had me at “hello”.
Until I read your final statement and realize you are delusional.
You state you will “continue to serve and represent them with honour and pride”. You probably meant to say I will “begin to serve with honour and pride”.
Is that where I left those!?…hey, is my copy of MILF rider with them?
Anyone know when Julie’s book will be available?
Want to guess the title?
I think a great title for Julie’s book is…..
Hey,Dude! Where’s My Briefs?
By Ron p on 05.28.08 6:23 pm
One thing you forgot to mention was the crippling export tax (18%, I think)on softwood lumber that we have to pay if housing starts in the US fall below a certain threshold. In the years PRIOR to the agreement, which were relatively good times, demand was below this threshold most of the time. We are painfully aware about what has happened since! This little detail has cost us thousands of jobs!
Agreeing to this export tax was a colosal blunder by Emerson.
By Dube on 05.28.08 9:33 pm
Great post, Dube,
If you repeat it ten times it just MIGHT get through to some of the thick skulls that vehemently defend the CPC’s cavalier attitude toward security checks involving ministers.
Harper announced the resignation of Bernier after which, he was probably looking forward to escaping off to Europe to avoid the media and house of commons-QP fallout. However, with the news that Bernier had left NATO files in unsecured location-made headlines in most European countries and around the world. So not only will Canadian media be asking Harper Questions, so will the Allies.
Bernier and the Conservatives may have damaged Canada’s reputation amongst NATO countries.
Have a look:
BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7198435.stm
CNN:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7198435.stm
The Australian:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23768866-2703,00.html
This also made news in France, India, and Pakistan….the list goes on.
I think Harper had high hopes for Bernier, as he did a lot to help the conservatives get 10 seats in Quebec.
Harper needs to find better candidates to run in the next federal election which means he will have to find mainstreamers that will be harder to control.
On the positive side of things, I am glad that the more mature and skilled former lumber executive, Emerson is in charge of foreign affairs now. While I hated to see such a talented guy leave the liberal party; in the end it was in the best interests of Canada.
James, Chatham, writes: “While what Mr. Bernier did in private is none of anyone’s business.”.
I disagree. If a minister were dining twice a week with someone with longstanding connections to organized crime and the minister were taking that friend to official functions and meetings of the Foreign Affairs department – no matter how platonic their relationship would be, I think the judgment of the minister would be questionable. I think the sex part has nothing to do with it. Ministers should not be hanging around with people known to police for their connections to organized crime; it’s simply a matter of good judgment. Some here I know think that because one is not convicted of crime makes them ‘virginal’ – in that case, Al Capone has been hard done by history. He only evaded the taxman.
Hush Hush sweet Julie
Julie don’t you cry
Hush Hush sweet Julie
He won’t love you if you lie
“I think it’s somebody’s 15 minutes of fame, listening to her interviews on the thing,” said Reid Morden, a former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Added ex-Mountie Chris Mathers: “This whole thing stinks.”
With that in mind, Mathers questioned Couillard’s sincerity.
“And all of a sudden she said that she was panicked by the fact that he left documents? Come on – she’s playing to the crowd.”
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080527/national/bernier_surveillance
WARNING! BUG ALERT!
Be on the lookout for Black Widows!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAmPY-ELCo4
Can anyone explain the NDP position on the Bernier issue? They took the same position as the Conservatives, defending Bernier on his right to privacy, in spite of the public nature of his relationship and in spite of the fact that they had evidence that he was careless with documents.
NDP MP Dawn Black is now releasing information that she could read Bernier’s talking points for a meeting with Ms Rice while on a flight with him when he left them exposed. If they knew about his carelessness with important documents why did they claim that his “personal” relationship with someone with a shady past was irrelevant?
Agreeing to this export tax was a colosal blunder by Emerson.
By Gord on 05.28.08 11:59 pm
Leaving a billion dollars on the table is one thing, seeing that billion go to our competitors is other.
Oh, and then there’s the tax as you pointed out.
It’s my belief that Emmerson simply gave in so that Harpie could tick this issue off his to-do list asap.
All done in haste and without merit.
NDP MP Dawn Black is now releasing information that she could read Bernier’s talking points
By C. B. Innes on 05.29.08 8:29 am
Does she have a video?
Lately I have had this eerie feeling that the country is descending rapidly. Maybe it’s just politics and journalism.
I read 3 articles from around the world yesterday on “the documents” and Harper’s reactions and I was discouraged even further. They were all substantially different. Journalism it seems has evolved into a spectrum of incompetence or half truths with a dash of opinion, interpretation, omission or just laziness. A bit of fact then add to taste. Pitiful.
The only story here is that a minister in government of a leading country would show such poor judgment.
The only story here is that a minister in government of a leading country would show such poor judgment.
By Greg on 05.29.08 12:00 pm,
I agree totally.
In addition, I get the feeling that what was more important to the NDP was the chance to oppose the Liberal position with regard to the potential security threat the poor judgement created.
Acting as the “official opposition to the Liberals” seems to get them into ridiculous situations. Mulcair, who I thought was going to be a positive addition to the NDP, is beginning to look really bad because of that “political strategy.”
I am really pleased to see Mr. Harper has appointed a seasoned and mature person in Mr, Emerson as Foreign Affairs Minister and hopefully this will be permanent. While I think Mr. Emerson’s floor crossing was disgraceful, at this point, the country needs a Foreign Minister that will not make the mistakes that have been made over the past year. I trust that he will do that and bring some semblance of integrity back to Canada. Country before politics!
By wjp on 05.28.08 5:34 pm
They guy that left a billion on the table for the US lumber trade agreement.
Yea, he is real competent .
Grow up ‘ya stiff .