I congratulate Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities on 10 years of helping Canadian children from financially disadvantaged families get involved in organized sport. Today, Canadian Tire stores nationwide are taking part in Jumpstart Day activities. Later this summer, we will see an incredible milestone reached: one million kids supported through the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program.
Every child deserves a chance to take part in sport; unfortunately, for some families, it can be difficult to pay the various associated costs. With 330 chapters in communities across the country, the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program helps cover registration, equipment and transportation costs to help kids get off the sidelines and into the game.
The Government of Canada is a proud partner and strong supporter of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. Through Sport Canada, the Government of Canada has provided close to $8.7 million in direct support to Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities since its launch in 2005—giving an additional 87,000 kids the opportunity to participate in organized sports.
On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I commend Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities on providing close to a million children across Canada the chance to take part in sport, become more active, and share in the fun and relationships sport creates. During this Year of Sport in Canada, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the significant contribution that Canadian Tire Jumpstart is making in the lives of young Canadians by making sport more accessible and affordable for all.
