"Pick", as he was known to all who worked with him, was one of Canada's most outstanding public figures. He served four Prime Ministers with distinction: as Principal Secretary to Mr. King, as Clerk of the Privy Council and as Minister under Mr. St. Laurent, as Minister under Mr. Pearson and as President of the Canadian Transport Commission during the time of Mr. Trudeau.

I had the honour to serve with Jack in the House of Commons. He was a man of great intellect, the author of many books and he was instrumental in the establishment of the Canada Council. As well, he had a keen sense of social justice, which led him to be one of the prime movers behind Canada's family allowance programs."