I'll answer the first part of your question and then ask my colleague to answer the second, because she is really the programs specialist.
When a budget is tabled, the Treasury Board is told how the money is to be spent. That's the first phase. Then, a program needs to be launched and people are asked to submit an application for it, which takes them a few weeks. After that, the applications need to be analyzed. Once that is done and they are accepted, the funds can be transferred.
Ms. Boily can now provide you with further details about the program.