Pierre Juneau (1922-2012)

Pierre Juneau, the first chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), has passed away at the age of  89.

As chair of the CRTC, Juneau was instrumental in the creation of can-con laws that govern the amount of Canadian content on radio and TV.
Juneau was appointed chair of the CRTC in 1968 by then prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and instituted the first minimum standards for Canadian content, which required broadcasters to air at least 30% Canadian material. The move was controversial and broadcasters ,specifically AM radio, objected.

However, Juneau's regulations helped create the music and television production industries in Canada which were virtually non-existent before.

Juneau's career began at the National Film Board of Canada rising through the ranks and eventually becoming the board's Director of French-language production. He also co-founded the Montreal International Film Festival and served as its president until 1968

After leaving the CRTC in 1975 Juneau tried his hand at politics, accepting an appointment to Trudeau's cabinet as Minister of Communications. He attempted to obtain a seat in parliament through a by-election but lost and was forced to resign his position.

In 1982 Juneau became the president of the CBC. During his tenure, which lasted until 1989, Juneau presided over the creation of CBC Newsworld, now the CBC News Network. His work for the CBC also included a push to make the CBC 95% Canadian and a move towards commissioned productions, rather than producing shows in house, a move that helped grow the Canadian production industry further.

Juneau's effect on the Canadian broadcasting/arts industry cannot be overstated, as seen in the fact that Canada's top music awards, The JUNOS, are named after him, and that every Canadian production owes him a debt of gratitude.