It varies e.g. Cancelled Indian Passport (in case of most adults) and Canadian Birth Certificate (in case of most children born in Canada)
But that's something new, they were not keeping the originals earlier. Moreover not all BLS centers are keeping the originals.
In my opinion, be ready for any original to be kept because its just a tactic for BLS Toronto to make more money by selling their expensive courier fees multiple times for originals and OCI. So BLS is just keeping the original document for fun.
Don't believe me, try asking them that you can to pickup that original document yourself OR ask them not to courier it separately, instead club it with OCI courier since they force courier charges for OCI anyway. They will give you excuses like timeline is different or documents are sent by consulate directly. All that is BS (you can track eventually the source and destination).
Questioning them for anything impacts their shady business method. So if you just agree to their monopoly/shady extortion, you may get better rate/service from them actually.
Here are few examples (feel free to skip):
1) Playing-along nicely with them: Didn't question them on anything today. Process went smooth. I got charged $30 per courier (i.e. $60 for OCI and Original document)
2) Questioning them: Few weeks ago during my Surrender Certificate (+ my friend's for OCI application), we questioned them at multiple points. The BLS guy was rude and charged $35 per courier (for my surrender certificate, my friends original, OCI etc.)
3) Playing-along nicely with them: One family next to us had some issues with their application. They agreed to take lot of BLS in-house services like photo (didn't question on couriers etc.) and paid the whole amount but application had many mistakes + documents were missing too. BLS person asked them to come after 1 hour or so with all the corrections (its common and people don't need appointment again). Even gave them an option to email instead of visiting.
4) Questioning them: One saw another family next to me today like last time but this couple questioned them on few points. They came in for their minor's OCI and the lady was pregnant with another child but she still came to be on safer side. We all know how complex is the overall process for a person applying OCI for the first time, you are certain to miss a document or make a mistake. Now this couple could have got all the options like last time couple but no they were asked to go back and get the appointment again after corrections (they got today's appointment 3 months ago). Walk-in is highly challenging these days, especially for pregnant women to wait for hours outside.
BLS people are bit bossy and they don't like to be questioned much, if anything like that happens they get angry and you will always be on the losing end.
