FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard resigned today from the cabinet of Premier Blaine Higgs.

Her two-sentence handwritten resignation letter says she can no longer remain in cabinet and is stepping down immediately.

Shephard was among the Progressive Conservative government members who disagreed with changes to the province’s LGBTQ policy in schools.

One major change prevents students under 16 who identify as transgender or nonbinary from officially changing their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.

Shephard and seven other members of the Tory caucus — including five other ministers — sat out question period on June 8 in protest of the policy.

Higgs has said he stands by the changes made to the policy and that he is willing to call an election over the issue.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2023.

The Canadian Press