Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces support for the Rick Hansen Foundation

March 21, 2010

VANCOUVER – 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.
 

 

Backgrounder
The Government of Canada is investing $13.5 million over 3 years in the Rick Hansen Foundation to strengthen spinal cord injury (SCI) research and care in Canada.
 

Rick Hansen Foundation

For 25 years, the Rick Hansen Foundation has been the driving force behind collaborative, interdisciplinary research.  The foundation’s research focuses on finding ways to improve lives and help find a cure for SCI.
 

About the Project

This project will support leadership, operations and programs as well as formalize and launch the Rick Hansen Institute.  The Institute will make significant contributions to Canadian SCI research and care 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.  Rick Hansen visited more than 30 countries and raised over $26 million for spinal cord research during the 1985 tour.  The total amount is now more than $200 million.  The anniversary campaign will highlight Canadian leadership in SCI research and care.  


Project Benefits

This project will help maintain Canada’s place at the leading edge of SCI research.  The technologies and programs offered by the Rick Hansen Foundation enable disabled Canadians to enter the labour market and reach their full potential, improving their overall quality of life.
 
This investment supports the Government of Canada’s Science and Technology Strategy by helping to build and sustain Canada’s international research leadership in health and related life sciences and technologies.  Also, this investment supports the Government of Canada’s Advantage Canada plan by enhancing Canadian research excellence.  

Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan invests close to $1.4 billion in initiatives to promote science and technology and innovation. This builds on an unprecedented federal investment of nearly $5 billion in Year 1 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.  


Backgrounder

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CANADIANS WITH DISABILITIES

Registered Disability Savings Plan
Budget 2007 proposed the creation of the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), including the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond as a way to help eligible individuals with disabilities and their families save for long-term financial security.  On December 14, 2007, legislation to amend the Income Tax Act and create the Canada Disability Savings Act received Royal Assent.
 
The Canada Disability Savings Grant is a matching grant from the Government of Canada paid directly into an RDSP.  The Canada Disability Savings Bond is money paid directly into an RDSP to help low- and modest-income families save for long‑term financial security.  The bond is paid regardless of whether contributions are made to an RDSP.
 
On December 23, 2008, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, launched the national availability of RDSPs.

An RDSP is a savings plan intended to help people with disabilities and their families save for the future.  In general, any person under the age of 60 who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (Disability Amount) and is a Canadian resident is eligible for an RDSP.  Earnings accumulate tax-free until money is withdrawn from the RDSP.  Parents or guardians may open an RDSP for a minor.  With written permission from the holder, anyone can contribute to the RDSP.  There is no annual contribution limit, but there is a lifetime contribution limit of $200,000.
 

Canada Disability Savings Grant

The Government of Canada will pay a matching grant of up to $3,500 a year, depending on the amount contributed and the beneficiary’s family income, with a lifetime limit of $70,000.   Grants will be paid into the RDSP until the year the beneficiary turns 49 years old.


Canada Disability Savings Bond

The Government will also pay a bond of up to $1,000 a year into the RDSPs of low‑ and modest-income Canadians.  No contributions are necessary to receive the bond.  There is a limit of $20,000 over the beneficiary’s lifetime.  Bonds will be paid into the RDSP until the year the beneficiary turns 49 years old.
 

Canada’s Economic Action Plan

Over the past few years, the Government of Canada has committed to breaking down barriers that prevent Canadians from reaching their full potential.  The Government invests annually to help address the needs of people with disabilities.  Canada’s Economic Action Plan, introduced as part of Budget 2009, included:
 
$1 billion over two years for renovations and energy retrofits of social housing, including renovations that support people with disabilities
An additional $75 million over two years for the construction of new social housing units for people with disabilities
$20 million for each of two years to improve the accessibility of federally-owned buildings
Effective doubling of the tax relief provided by the Working Income Tax Benefit, which includes a supplement for persons with disabilities
Extending the increase in the Home Buyers’ Plan limit and the First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit to people with disabilities who are not first-time home buyers but are buying a more accessible or functional home

Budget 2008 introduced new measures that will increase access to post‑secondary education for students with permanent disabilities, including a new Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability.
 
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca .
 
For further information on federal programs for people with disabilities, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/disability  or contact 1 800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). For people using a teletypewriter device (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.
 
For further information on the RDSP, the grant and the bond, visit www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca.