As Ottawa debates the circumstances and implications of External Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier’s liaison with his biker chick, one’s mind rushes back to the mid 1960’s when, over concerns of the security risk implicit in their affairs with a prostitute one cabinet minister resigned and another’s career was permanently stained. Both Pierre Sevigny and George Hees were Conservatives too. No surprise, after decades of scandals in which attempts to cover-up were more damaging than the original incident, Wikipedia’s article on the affair reminds me that the Conservative’s lied to steer attention away from Gerda.
Four decades later, Bernier’s brief affair may be destined for the big yawn bin. Canadians’ attitudes have changed and our tolerance, rightly or wrongly, increased. However, when the minister already has shown his incompetence to execute the responsibilities of his office, this is one more example of his lack of judgement and one more reason the prime minister has to decide whether to stand by his man despite the damage to his government’s reputation, or fire the minister and limit the damage. A minister’s private life is never private, no matter how much the minister may wish it. Maybe he didn’t mumble state secrets into the pillow, but in just what circles does this minister travel? A principled prime minister would demand the minister’s resignation. I’m not holding my breath waiting.
