A federal-Ontario funding program to stimulate the economy and help non-profit organizations repair and expand their buildings is practically inaccessible, critics say.

Paul Dewar, MP for Ottawa centre, said the Aug. 18 deadline isn't realistic, especially since it is the summer and many people may be away on vacation. In addition, accessing the application form requires a website password that the government has taken up to a week to provide.

The federal and Ontario governments announced July 28 that they would allow non-profit groups to apply for some of their $3-billion economic stimulus fund orignially targeted at municipality infrastructure only.
 
Those eligible to apply include:

* Temporary housing shelters.
* Community centres.
* Services such as food banks, animal shelters and employment centres.
* Cultural facilities such as art galleries and museums.

Health, education and correctional facilities are not eligible.

To make the program work for non-profits MP Dewar wants the government to:

* Extend the deadline.
* Make the program more accessible.

Otherwise, it will be accused of not having been serious in the first place, Dewar said.

Infrastructure Canada said it does not expect to extend the timeframe, as the goal of the fund was to get money flowing quickly and get Canadians to work as soon as possible. The department added that it worked with Ontario to develop reasonable deadlines that should not be a problem for projects that are ready to go.

Municipalities had a similar time frame, but some non-profit groups said their situation is different, due to their small staff and their reliance on fundraising for their own third of the money for the project.

"If you're in a situation where you have a need, but you don't have your plans ready yet because you didn't know there was an opportunity for funding, then the timelines being this short would be almost impossible," said Sue Garvey, director of Ottawa's Cornerstone shelter, which currently squeezes 55 homeless women into a building with a capacity of 32.

Michelle Reis Amores, executive director of Nelson House, an Ottawa-area shelter for women and children fleeing violence and abuse, said her 15-bed facility is often at full capacity and isn't big enough to serve women who come in with four children.

She added that the house currently must turn away women with mobility issues, but would like to become accessible.

Perry Rowe, chair of the Alliance to End Homelessness said agencies' proposals need not only to be put together, but also approved by their boards of directors.

He added that non-profit groups seldom have the chance to improve their infrastructure, as they spend all their donations on delivering services.

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