Norwich councillors want more information on county’s child plan

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

Township staff have been asked to get more information on what Oxford County’s Child Care and Early Years system plan means when it discusses “creating inclusive and responsive programs and services” or increasing the availability of educational materials that “reflect the diversity of the community.”

Councillors asked for the additional information when the 2025-2029 plan was included in an agenda item at the May 13 council meeting. Oxford County council has already moved to support the plan, voting to do so at a late April meeting.

“Unfortunately the terms diversity and inclusion in recent years have become somewhat loaded terms,” said Coun. Karl Toews.

“I think of a young couple that needs child care and may have traditional views on issues of gender and sexuality, and may be struggling with sending their child into Oxford community child care for fear of what ideologies or agendas their child might be exposed to. So, I don’t think anyone should ever be in that kind of a position.”

The plan includes five main priorities: increasing access, supporting inclusive and responsive programs and services, enhancing quality, improving affordability, and using evidence to improve outcomes for children and families.

While he couldn’t say for sure what was meant under priority two, CAO Matt Smith said it was likely equipping staff with the tools to work with children and families from different backgrounds, and providing resources that reflect those backgrounds.

“In this case I would be very surprised if it was anything other than a conversation about multicultural backgrounds. There’s a lot of educational research that says kids are more successful if they see themselves reflected in the materials that they’re learning from,” he said.

Toews, who said he had “no issue with at all and educating the kids about our diverse multicultural demographic,” nevertheless worried “there may be more to it than that.”