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Province promises $3 million for spinal cord research

Mar 3, 2008 | Paul Turenne | Winnipeg Sun News

Manitoba's government will spend $3 million over the next five years and will join a national spinal cord injury research network as part of a 20th anniversary initiative commemorating Rick Hansen's Man In Motion tour.

Hansen, who wheeled around the world from 1985 to 1987, was at the Manitoba Legislature this morning for the funding announcement, which will see provincial tax dollars flow to establish an accessibility fund to help people modify their homes post-injury and hire a new provincial rehabilitation counsellor, among other things.

Some of the money will also be available to the spinal cord injury research unit at Health Sciences Centre, which will join the Rick Hansen Foundation's new national research network as part of the pledge.

Karen Ethans, the unit's director, said the funding will allow the unit to continue ongoing research as well as starting new projects.

The network was established last year with a $30-million pledge from Ottawa. So far Alberta, Ontario and now Manitoba have joined on.