Pierre Juneau
Encyclopedia
Pierre Juneau, PC
, OC
, born , is a retired film and broadcast executive and one-time member of the Canadian Cabinet.
He was born in Verdun, now part of Montreal
, to a working class family. After graduating from the Université de Montréal
, he studied at the University of Paris
where he met Pierre Trudeau
, with whom he cofounded the dissident political magazine Cité Libre
upon returning to Montreal.
He was the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne (JEC)Canadian representative at the International Young Catholic Students(IYCShttp://www.iycs-jeci.org) Centre for International Documentation and Information (CIDI) in 1947–49. He is considered as one of the key man behind the creation of IYCS which today is present in over 80 countries with millions of members.
Juneau joined the National Film Board of Canada
in 1949. In the 1950s, he was the NFB's assistant regional supervisor in Quebec
, and then became the chief of international distribution, the assistant head of the European office, and the NFB's secretary. In 1964, he became the board's Director of French-language production. In 1959, Juneau was a cofounder of the Montreal International Film Festival, and served as its president until 1968.
In 1966, Juneau was appointed vice-chairman of the Bureau of Broadcast Governors. When the BBG became the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) in 1968, Juneau became the body's first chairman. In the early 1970s, he was the architect of the CRTC's Canadian content
regulations that require a certain percentage of radio and television time to be devoted to programming (or music in the case of radio) produced in Canada. Canadian content, by requiring radio stations to give air play to Canadian artists, is credited with the creating a domestic market for Canadian music and the subsequent boom in music production. The music industry's Juno Award
s are named after Juneau, and in 1971 he received a special Juno award for "Canadian music industry Man of the Year".
In 1975, Juneau left the CRTC to accept an appointment by Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau to the cabinet as Minister of Communications
. Since Juneau did not have a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
, he attempted to enter parliament through a by-election
, but was defeated in the Montreal riding of Hochelaga
by the Progressive Conservative
candidate. He resigned from cabinet.
He was subsequently appointed to the civil service
by Trudeau as undersecretary of state, and then, in 1980, as deputy minister
of communications. In 1982, he became president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
. As Juneau was closely identified with the Liberal Party, he was viewed with hostility by the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney
that came to power in the 1984 election
.
Despite financial pressures, during his term as CBC president, Juneau inaugurated a new cable service, CBC Newsworld
, and increased Canadian content on the CBC to 95% of programming.
After retiring from the CBC, he founded the World Radio and Television Council, a non-government organization supported by UNESCO
.
In 1975, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, OC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, born , is a retired film and broadcast executive and one-time member of the Canadian Cabinet.
He was born in Verdun, now part of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, to a working class family. After graduating from the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
, he studied at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
where he met Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, with whom he cofounded the dissident political magazine Cité Libre
Cité Libre
Cité Libre was an influential political journal published in Quebec, Canada, through the 1950s and 1960s. Co-founded in 1950 by editor and future Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau, the publication served as an organ of opposition to the conservative and authoritarian government of Maurice...
upon returning to Montreal.
He was the Jeunesse Étudiante Chrétienne (JEC)Canadian representative at the International Young Catholic Students(IYCShttp://www.iycs-jeci.org) Centre for International Documentation and Information (CIDI) in 1947–49. He is considered as one of the key man behind the creation of IYCS which today is present in over 80 countries with millions of members.
Juneau joined the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
in 1949. In the 1950s, he was the NFB's assistant regional supervisor in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and then became the chief of international distribution, the assistant head of the European office, and the NFB's secretary. In 1964, he became the board's Director of French-language production. In 1959, Juneau was a cofounder of the Montreal International Film Festival, and served as its president until 1968.
In 1966, Juneau was appointed vice-chairman of the Bureau of Broadcast Governors. When the BBG became the Canadian Radio and Television Commission (CRTC) in 1968, Juneau became the body's first chairman. In the early 1970s, he was the architect of the CRTC's Canadian content
Canadian content
Canadian content refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requirements that radio and television broadcasters must air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from...
regulations that require a certain percentage of radio and television time to be devoted to programming (or music in the case of radio) produced in Canada. Canadian content, by requiring radio stations to give air play to Canadian artists, is credited with the creating a domestic market for Canadian music and the subsequent boom in music production. The music industry's Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s are named after Juneau, and in 1971 he received a special Juno award for "Canadian music industry Man of the Year".
In 1975, Juneau left the CRTC to accept an appointment by Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau to the cabinet as Minister of Communications
Minister of Communications (Canada)
The Minister of Communications of Canada is a now-defunct cabinet post which existed from 1969 to 1996, when it was abolished. Its telecommunications policy functions were transferred to Industry Canada and its cultural role was assumed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.The post was...
. Since Juneau did not have a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, he attempted to enter parliament through a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
, but was defeated in the Montreal riding of Hochelaga
Hochelaga (electoral district)
Hochelaga is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1988 and since 2004...
by the Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
candidate. He resigned from cabinet.
He was subsequently appointed to the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
by Trudeau as undersecretary of state, and then, in 1980, as deputy minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
of communications. In 1982, he became president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
. As Juneau was closely identified with the Liberal Party, he was viewed with hostility by the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
that came to power in the 1984 election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
.
Despite financial pressures, during his term as CBC president, Juneau inaugurated a new cable service, CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
, and increased Canadian content on the CBC to 95% of programming.
After retiring from the CBC, he founded the World Radio and Television Council, a non-government organization supported by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
In 1975, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.