I served, in 1972, as parliamentary secretary, as my leader, Senator Cowan said, to the Secretary of State for External Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Mitchell Sharp, who told me when I was appointed, " Pierre, all of my parliamentary secretaries have become ministers, so I want you, every day, to attend, at nine o'clock, my daily meeting with my deputy, Ed Ritchie, who just arrived from Washington, where he was Canada's ambassador.
En 1972, comme l'a dit mon leader, le sénateur Cowan, j'ai été secrétaire parlementaire auprès du secrétaire d'État aux Affaires extérieures et vice-premier ministre, l'honorable Mitchell Sharp. À ma nomination, ce dernier m'a dit : « Pierre, tous mes secrétaires parlementaires sont devenus ministres.