PRESS RELEASE

Halifax August 7, 2024

Concerns Raised Over Potential Conflict of Interest: Call for Alec Stratford to Step Down
as Executive Director of Nova Scotia College of Social Workers

Alec Stratford, the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, has
recently announced his candidacy for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the upcoming
elections[1][3]. While individuals are entitled to their political affiliations, Mr. Stratford’s
public declaration of his candidacy while holding a significant leadership position raises
serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers plays a crucial role in regulating the social
work profession and advocating for important social issues[2]. As the Executive Director,
Mr. Stratford’s position requires impartiality and the ability to represent all social workers,
regardless of their political leanings.

By openly aligning himself with a specific political party, Mr. Stratford’s ability to maintain
objectivity in his current role may be compromised. This situation could potentially
undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the College in its regulatory and advocacy
functions.

We call upon Mr. Stratford to step down from his position as Executive Director of the
Nova Scotia College of Social Workers to preserve the integrity of the organization and
ensure that it remains an unbiased voice for all social workers in the province.

The social work profession demands the highest ethical standards, and leadership
positions within regulatory bodies must be held to an even higher standard of impartiality.
We urge Mr. Stratford to prioritize the interests of the profession and the College by
resigning from his current role as he pursues his political ambitions.

The People’s Party believes in fair and accountable representation within governing bodies,
as well as impartiality within our public institutions.

Citations:
[1] Alec Stratford nominated as NSNDP candidate for Cole Harbour
https://www.nsndp.ca/alec-stratford-nominated-nsndp-candidate-cole-harbour
[2] NSCSW Staff – Nova Scotia College of Social Workers
https://nscsw.org/about/nscsw-staff/
[3] Alec Stratford (@Alec_Strats) / X https://twitter.com/alec_strats
[4] Update to guidelines on supporting gender-diverse N.S. students …
https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7241379
[5] N.S. news: Social worker caseloads are inaccurate, official says
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-lacks-accurate-caseload-count -for-burdened-social-workers-official-1.6888161

Contact and Interview Requests:
media@ppchalifax.ca