:: PM Support for Rick Hansen Foundation Canada

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced support for the Rick Hansen Foundation. This investment through Canada's Economic Action Plan will advance knowledge and research to improve the lives of people living with spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Canada and abroad.

"The Rick Hansen Foundation has supported research and programs that have improved the lives of tens of thousands of Canadians," said Prime Minister Harper. "Through today's announcement, ever greater numbers of Canadians will be encouraged to realize their true potential."

"I would like to thank the Government of Canada for believing in our Foundation and for their generous contribution," said Rick Hansen, President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation. "This new funding will help us to establish our global institute, to raise awareness, to work towards a cure for SCI and to improve the lives of people living with SCI across Canada and around the world."

With this investment, the Rick Hansen Foundation will strengthen its leadership, operations and programs as well as formalize and launch the Rick Hansen Institute. The Institute will make significant contributions in Canadian SCI research and will strengthen Canada's leadership in the field internationally. Funding will also support the implementation of the 25th anniversary campaign of the Man in Motion World Tour.

"Our Government is proud to support the work of somebody like Rick Hansen, who has devoted his life to challenging the preconceptions about what those with spinal cord injuries can achieve," said the Prime Minister. "We are committed to helping remove those barriers that remain for people living with spinal cord injuries."

For 25 years, the Rick Hansen Foundation has been the driving force behind collaborative, interdisciplinary research. The Foundation's research focuses on ways to improve lives and help find a cure for spinal cord injury.

This investment from Canada's Economic Plan builds on the Government's existing support for Canadians with disabilities. In 2007, the Government of Canada introduced the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) "including the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond "to help Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future. In the first year of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government introduced measures to help build new accessible social housing units, to increase the accessibility of federally-owned buildings and to improve tax credits for people with disabilities. Budget 2010 also provides increased funding to the Canadian Paralympic Committee to build on the successes of our Paralympians and encourage persons with disabilities to take part in sport.