Premier Stephen McNeil has accepted the resignation of Catherine Woodman, deputy minister of the Department of Business effective Friday, Jan. 8.Ms. Woodman is resigning to focus fully on her recovery from a concussion suffered last fall."With regret today I accepted Catherine's resignation," said Premier McNeil. "Catherine established the Department of Business and helped to lay the foundation for private-sector growth in Nova Scotia. I thank her for her contributions and her long-standing commitment to public service and the betterment of this province.""I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with this government and the team at the Department of Business," said Ms. Woodman. "I have made the difficult decision to leave for personal reasons in order to focus fully on my health and ongoing recovery from an accident last year."M.J. MacDonald, currently a managing director with the Department of Business, will assume the deputy minister role on an acting basis until a permanent replacement is named. FOR BROADCAST USE:     Premier Stephen McNeil has accepted the resignation of thedeputy minister of the Department of Business, effectiveFriday (January 8th).     Deputy Minister Catherine Woodman is resigning to focusfully on her recovery from a concussion suffered last fall.     Premier McNeil says as deputy of the Department of BusinessMs. Woodman helped to lay the foundation for private-sectorgrowth in Nova Scotia.     M.J. MacDonald, currently a managing director with theDepartment of Business, will assume the deputy minister role onan acting basis until a permanent replacement is named.Source: Release