Embassy Magazine
May 14th, 2008
Security Threat or Private Affair?
We asked: 'Did Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier's involvement
with Julie Couillard, a woman linked to two outlaw motorcycle
gang members, constitute a potential threat to national security?'
Julian Sher, co-author Angels of Death: Inside the Biker's Global
Crime Empire
"This is not about Madame Couillard's past, but about the
government's present policy. She could be a brave woman who cut
her ties and the bikers might seek vengeance or they might use
blackmail. The point is we don't know because the government refuses
to say if they did a security check to make sure there is no threat."
Michael Byers, Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International
Law, University of British Colombia
"Whether or not Bernier's involvement with Couillard constitutes
a potential threat to national security depends on what he said
to her, and what she saw and heard while accompanying him to Afghanistan
and elsewhere. For this reason, it is imperative that Bernier
be interviewed at length by the RCMP and CSIS. The interview should
be confidential, respecting his personal privacy. But it must
take place, even if Bernier thinks that no sensitive information
was revealed, for he is not an expert in national security. The
matter is too potentially serious to be left to his personal judgment."
Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic
"The key word is 'potential.' The government has to conduct
a review to assure that no actual breach of security took place.
Stonewalling won't do it."
Claude Bachand, Bloc Québécois defence critic
"I told from the start there could be a breach of security
with this type of person accompanying a minister anywhere. So
that's why I was surprised to read that the person that accompanies
a minister or his girlfriend doesn't have an inquiry on them by
the RCMP. With a senior minister of this importance, those surrounding
or accompanying them need to be checked."
Wade Deisman, director of the National Security Working Group,
University of Ottawa
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous to pretend that this
is somehow a threat to national security, especially since we
are talking about a thrice removed relationship. The allegation
comes from an informant, which makes it questionable in terms
of reliability already. The main point is that this is the past
we are talking about. There has not been much evidence, only a
lot of heresay made for political mileage with basic allegations."
James Moore, parliamentary secretary to the minister of public
works
"No. When you're sworn in, you take an oath to protect the
information you've been entrusted with. No evidence suggests he's
done anything to not live up to his responsibilities. I don't
really care what any member does within the privacy of their own
lives."
Gilles Duceppe, Bloc Québécois leader
"We have to check that and have a security check. I think
it is a question of public interest. There should be security
checks on ministers' spouses, just like there are on high civil
servants."
Diane Finley, minister of citizenship and immigration
"[It's] absolutely none of my business."
Jack Layton, NDP leader
"All I can say is that the real threats to national security
right now are issues such as climate change, which is causing
untold problems globally and creating destabilization of a serious
nature. We've got the issue of conflicts around the world. We
have a whole series of issues that, as far as we're concerned,
are more important to security of Canadians than this particular
issue. Which is why we've chosen to focus on those broader questions."
Garth Turner, Liberal national revenue critic
"The short answer is yes. We don't know if [the threat]
exists, but it's a potential threat to national security. Certainly
the minister is the one who is in a very sensitive position. The
information that's come out about her is that she definitely had
access to his briefing materials, and had access to his schedule,
and travelled with him. How she would not be a security threat
is beyond me. So, I have no doubt."
Paul Dewar NDP foreign affairs critic
"My concern about Mr. Bernier is his lack of qualifications
for the job as top diplomat. If there's any concerns around national
security it's about his lack of training. That's more of a compromise
to national security than who his girlfriend is, in my opinion."
