A second Nova Scotia MLA has announced he will be stepping down today.

NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald has announced that Frank Corbett, MLA for Cape Breton Centre, will be stepping down.

Earlier this morning Gordie Gosse, MLA for Sydney-Whitney Pier, told CBC in an interview he would be stepping down due to health issues.

"Myself and my caucus colleagues wish them the very best as they return to private life. We thank them for their many, many years of service to their communities, our party and our province," said MacDonald in a news release.

Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie wished both Corbett and Gosse "a happy and well-deserved retirement."

"Frank ... fought fiercely for the labour movement in the province. He will be remembered for championing the rights of widowers, who had remarried, to receive the pension benefits of their spouses who died in the workplace. We will miss his candid and frank humour in the legislature. We wish them both all the best in their future endeavours," said Baillie in a news release.

Corbett was first elected March 24, 1998 as the member for Cape Breton Centre. During his 17 years of public service he held many positions including deputy premier, minister of the public service commission, and minister of labour and advanced education.

"It has been a great honour and pleasure to have served the people of Cape Breton Centre for the past 17 years," said Corbett in a news release. "I want to thank my constituents and my caucus colleagues for their support. Having given the matter some thought for some time, I've decided it's time to start a new chapter of my life where I put my family ahead of politics."

The NDP caucus now has five members, down from seven.