Federal government hopes to process 90% of applications for wage subsidies by May 5

The federal government says it hopes to process 90 per cent of applications for wage subsidies from employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by May 5.

Jean-Yves Duclos, the vice-chair of the cabinet committee on COVID-19, offered the timeline after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this morning that applications for wage support will be open next Monday.

However, neither Trudeau nor Duclos could say when money would actually start to flow to employers.

Employers whose bottom lines have been hit by the pandemic will be able to apply for the federal government to cover up to 75 per cent of employee wages, retroactive to mid-March.