“It obviously was not done on purpose. It was a mistake. But it doesn’t matter. It was clearly done and that has to be treated appropriately. There are precedents and this obviously is a warning to all Ministers.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Macleans.ca, May 26 2008
“Mr. Bernier has learned and informed me that he left classified government documents in a non-secure location. This is a serious error. The minister has accepted his responsibilities in offering to resign.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CTV News, May 26 2008
“This is about one thing, and that is a failure to uphold expected standards on government documents. It is a very serious mistake regardless of who the minister is.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CBC Radio’s World Report, May 27 2008
“We certainly take adequate care to ensure that they are not disclosed, and that they are not left behind somewhere, and unfortunately, the minister broke those rules.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Global National, May 27 2008
“Mr. Speaker, the rules governing classified documents are always serious. That is why, when the minister became aware of the situation, he told me and tendered his resignation, which I accepted.”
“Ministers are always responsible for the protection of classified documents. The minister admitted his mistake in this matter and resigned his post. That is why I accepted his resignation. The former minister did the honourable thing by resigning.”
“The minister admitted that he failed to protect classified documents. That is why he offered his resignation and why I accepted it.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hansard, June 2, 2008
“The former minister of foreign affairs informed me about the problem with the documents on Monday and offered his resignation, and that is why I accepted it.”
“The former foreign affairs minister admitted that he left classified documents in unsecured premises. That is the reason why he tendered his resignation and I accepted it.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hansard, June 3, 2008
“We know the reason the former minister of foreign affairs offered me his resignation was because of his own actions. He left classified documents in an inappropriate and unsecured location. He offered to resign and I accepted his resignation.”
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hansard, June 18, 2008
