OTTAWA—The federal government is tapping the brakes on its plans to phase out pandemic aid programs this summer, deciding instead to freeze benefits at current levels and extend help by an extra month beyond the previously planned end date. The decision means that wage and rent subsidies for businesses, and income support for workers out of a job or who need to take time off to care for family or stay home sick, will last until Oct. 23. Rates for the wage and rent subsidies will hold at current levels until September, holding off on the previously planned decline. Similarly, the three “recovery” benefits for workers will keep paying out at $300 per week, and four more weeks of eligibility will be added to a maximum of 54 weeks. The same extra weeks will be available to workers who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits. The Liberals had planned to …