Bernier was elected as a Conservative candidate in Quebec and became the Minister of Industry before being reassigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2007 . Though his relationship with Couillard had ended in December , they continued with occasional trysts . In April 2008 , as Bernier departed Couillard 's home , he left a briefing book from the 2008 Bucharest summit . Couillard put the briefcase containing the notes labelled confidential aside and forgot about them until May when she returned them to a foreign affairs office . Significant discussion about the affair was then voiced in both the House of Commons of Canada and the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security as to whether the affair was a threat to national security . However , Prime Minister of Canada , Stephen Harper stated that their relationship was a private matter and dismissed it as a security threat
2008 Bucharest summit
2008 Bucharest summit
My Story (Julie Couillard book)