Gerard A. Janssen (b. May 3, 1946) is a Dutch-born jeweller, watchmaker and political figure in British Columbia. He represented Alberni in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1988 to 2001 as a New Democratic Party (NDP) member.
He was born in Venlo, the son of Nicholas Jannsen and Maria Sloesen, and came to Canada with his parents in 1952. Janssen later took over the operation of the business established by his parents in 1956. In 1967, he married Florence Edith Irene McIver. He was a member of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, also serving as its president. Janssen was first elected to the provincial assembly in a 1988 by-election held after Bob Skelly resigned his seat to enter federal politics. He served as government whip in the assembly. Janssen was a member of the provincial cabinet, serving as Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from 2000 to 2001. He was defeated by Gillian Trumper when he ran for reelection to the assembly in the new riding of Alberni-Qualicum in 2001.
Electoral History
| British Columbia general election, 2001: Alberni-Qualicum |
|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% | Expenditures |
|---|
| Liberal | Gillian Trumper | 13,109 | 53.32% | +17.47 | $34,684 |
| New Democratic | Gerard Janssen | 7,395 | 30.08% | -21.93 | $10,768 |
| Green | Sergio Paone | 2,999 | 12.20% | +10.83 | $4,066 |
| Marijuana | Nicholas Saint Edmund Thorp | 1,081 | 4.40% | – | $1,578 |
| Total valid votes | 24,584 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | 93 | 0.38% |
| Turnout | 24,677 | 74.70% |
| Liberal gain from New Democratic | Swing | +19.7% |
| British Columbia general election, 1996: Alberni |
|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% |
|---|
| New Democratic | Gerard A. Janssen | 7,398 | 52.01% | -1.38 |
| Liberal | Gillian Trumper | 5,099 | 35.85% | +18.21 |
| Reform | V. Hansen | 823 | 5.79% | – |
| Progressive Democrat | Ingrid Helen Rebar | 578 | 4.06% | – |
| Green | Andre Sperling | 195 | 1.37% | – |
| Co-operative Commonwealth | Karl Angus | 72 | 0.51% | – |
| Natural Law | Kathleen Lapreyrouse | 58 | 0.41% | – |
| Total valid votes | 14,223 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | 86 | 0.98% |
| Turnout | 14,309 |
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +9.80 |
| British Columbia general election, 1991: Alberni |
|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% |
|---|
| New Democratic | Gerard A. Janssen | 7,136 | 53.39% | -4.08 |
| Social Credit | Gillian Trumper | 3,665 | 27.43% | -0.37 |
| Liberal | Peter J. Tanner | 2,358 | 17.64% | +2.91 |
| Western Canada Concept | Alan W. Banford | 206 | 1.54% | – |
| Total valid votes | 13,365 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | 372 | 0.27% |
| Turnout | 13,737 |
| New Democratic hold | Swing | -2.23 |
| British Columbia provincial by-election, November 19, 1988: Alberni |
|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ∆% |
|---|
| New Democratic | Gerard A. Janssen | 6,401 | 57.47 | +2.18 |
| Social Credit | George S. Dryden | 3,096 | 27.80 | −13.92 |
| Liberal | Shirley M. Bonfield | 1,640 | 14.73 | +12.3 |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | 11,137 | 100.0 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | 136 | 0.38 | |
| Turnout | 11,273 |   | |
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +8.05 |
| By-election due to the Resignation of Robert Skelly to run for the Canadian House of Commons. |
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