Province Gives City of Hamilton $10-mil in Additional Funding for Early Years Programming & Child Care

Ontario’s Ministry of Education is increasing the City’s Early Years funding by $9,938,458 for 2017.
City staff are recommending the hiring of an additional full-time Early Years Strategy Specialist, with a cost of $110,775 attached to the position. $5,439,321 for expanded child care for children aged 0-4 years, $2,719,661 to increase subsides and access to licensed child care for children aged 0-6 years, $679,362 for children aged 0-12, $253,315 for wage increases for staff working in licensed child care, and $25,979 for data analysis services.
This brings the City total Child Care and Early Years budget to $69,354,172 for 2017, of which only $5,754,424 is funded from municipal taxes. The City will prioritize the expansion of non-profit child care spaces.