I does seem very relaxed, not noting anything about the age of the IMM 5292. So if a long gone PR was able to stumble into an Ontario DriveTest Center with their passport and an old landing document, they could get a DL and be good without a PR card until back in compliance with RO….Hmm, it would be nice if someone who has done this recently was able to provide some details about their experience.
I do not know about five years but do recall having seen some here with PR cards one or two years expired. (Ontario specifically)
One thing we should have noted - very important - is whether or not the PR has a SIN and that it has been confirmed as not in 'dormancy' mode.
Side note - something I'll admit I have a strong opinion on, and something that I think cases like this are good examples of something on which IRCC is failing, from a policy perspective:
-if the "policy" is that non-compliance with the residency obligation is something that can be 'cured' by just remaining in Canada, and if those who are non-compliant but already in Canada are not here 'illegally', it is STUPID to make it more difficult or in some cases impossible for them to live and work here while they wait to become compliant.
It's STUPID to make it harder or impossible for them to work and pay taxes (the SIN dormancy issue), to demonstrate that they are residents of the province they're residing in (the DL/photo ID issue), and - from a public health perspective - to make it excessively hard to qualify for health care. (The health care one I had to phrase a bit carefully - because I recognize there is a real financial issue for provinces, and that eg BC has
some reasons to make a PR demonstrate they're in Canada legally.)
And yes, not all of these issues are the fault of the feds/IRCC - but not working it out is still an abdication of responsibility for PRs.
As it is, the 'policy' seems to be that the only way to demonstrate one is in Canada legally is the PR card, but you can't get it unless you're compliant - therefore
implying that the person is here illegally.
IRCC could
very easily come up with a document - a letter - that just confirms the person (name date of birth etc) is a PR as of such-and-such a date and not make it usable as the PR cards now are, i.e. to re-enter Canada. It could be a simple letter. It's fundamentally no more complex than a database query - would you not scream if your employer couldn't print out a letter confirming you're an employee? Like, in an hour?
On the other hand, if IRCC wants to treat compliance with the residency obligation as a requirement to be considered 'legally in Canada' and if you're not, you're illegal - fine. Change the law.
But there is no worse policy in this context than to let people in and increase the likelihood they'll work illegally, become a public charge, etc. It benefits absolutely no-one.
And that's sort of where we've ended up with BC and others, enacting their own hodgepodge of requirements because IRCC wont' just come up with a simple confirmation document.
Sorry, [/end of rant.]