Dorothy Shephard
Canadian politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dorothy Shephard (born c. 1961) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 2010 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Saint John Lancaster as a member of the Progressive Conservatives.[2] She was born and raised in Saint John.[3] Shephard was re-elected in the 2014, 2018 and 2020 provincial elections. Prior to becoming involved in politics, she owned and operated Benjamin Moore Colour Centre, a retail decorating store, for 17 years.[4]
Dorothy Shephard | |
---|---|
Minister of Health | |
In office September 29, 2020 – July 15, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Ted Flemming |
Succeeded by | Bruce Fitch |
Minister of Social Development | |
In office July 15, 2022 – June 15, 2023 | |
Premier | Blaine Higgs |
Preceded by | Bruce Fitch |
Succeeded by | Jill Green (Social Development) Kathy Bockus (Seniors) |
In office November 9, 2018 – September 29, 2020 | |
Premier | Blaine Higgs |
Preceded by | Stephen Horsman (Families and Children) Lisa Harris (Seniors and Long-Term Care) |
Succeeded by | Bruce Fitch |
Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities | |
In office October 9, 2012 – October 7, 2014 | |
Premier | David Alward |
Preceded by | Trevor Holder (Culture, Tourism, and Healthy-Living) |
Succeeded by | Cathy Rogers |
Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly for Saint John Lancaster | |
Assumed office September 27, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Abel LeBlanc |
Personal details | |
Born | 1960 or 1961 (age 62–63)[1] Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Shephard served as Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities in the Alward government from 2012 to 2014.[5] In 2018, she was appointed Minister of Social Development in the Higgs government.[6] In 2020 she was appointed Minister of Health,[7] and in 2022 she was returned to the post of Minister of Social Development.[8]
Shephard resigned from cabinet on June 15, 2023, by handing Premier Blaine Higgs a handwritten resignation letter on the floor of legislature after a voting for an opposition motion calling for further studies on Policy 713.[9] In subsequent media interviews, she cited frustration with Higgs' leadership approach as the reason for her resignation, with his management of Policy 713 being the culmination of her frustrations.[10] On March 21, 2024 Shephard announced that she would not be a contestant in the provincial election scheduled for October 2024, citing a conflict between the party's traditionally "moderate, centrist values", which she supported, and its recent "hyper-focused trend with far-right politics".[11]