Prime Minister Stephen Harper enters a library with MP Maxime Bernier, behind, as they visit a school together in St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., on Friday. (Jacques Boissinot/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper had kind words for Maxime Bernier on Friday, during his first visit to the MP's riding since the Julie Couillard affair brought the former cabinet minister down.

Harper visited the Beauce riding, where he told supporters that his former foreign affairs minister is much appreciated by the Conservative government, as Bernier looked on, remaining silent throughout the prime minister's speech.

"I must say that Maxime is carrying out some outstanding work," Harper said at a junior college. "He has attracted important investments to your region.

"The list is quite lengthy, my friends, and apparently he still finds time to go door to door. So Maxime, for all the work you've carried out for the people of your region, please accept our warm applause."

After his speech, Harper wouldn't say whether he was willing to forgive Bernier, but indicated he is grateful for his work as a member of Parliament.

"We all know that Maxime made some mistakes, some years ago. He recognized them, and he resigned. All his colleagues, and myself too, hold him in high esteem, and it's great to have him on our team."

Bernier was forced to resign his cabinet position in 2008 after he forgot a stack of confidential documents at his ex-girlfriend Couillard's house. His relationship with Couillard came under heavy public scrutiny because of her past marriage to a Hells Angels member.

PM doesn't rule out Bernier cabinet return

The scandal didn't seem to affect Bernier's popularity in the Beauce riding, where he was re-elected with a large majority in the last federal election.

Harper wouldn't exclude the possibility of Bernier returning to cabinet at some point.

"They told me it was possible that this question would be asked," he answered in French. "With these kinds of questions, I always say that I never speculate about my future actions."

The prime minister was in the northeastern Quebec region to announce the second phase of an infrastructure investment plan targeting post-secondary education institutions.