THERE IS NO CLOCK for Section 5(1) grant citizenship applications.
The 12 month processing time line is merely a report, a highly generalized report, about how long a median number of routine applications, plus at least one (or "most" as this quantity is typically described), took to process IN THE PAST.
It is NOT a forecast or prediction, let alone a timeline, let alone a "clock."
Nothing happens at the end of a full year of processing time that changes anything. Applications taking this long (and in the current situation, the vast majority are clearly going to take LONGER than this, at least for awhile) continue to remain in the same queue waiting for the next task item.
Moreover, for now, in the current situation, processing time information posted by IRCC, based on previously completed applications, offers very little insight into evaluating a prospective processing time line going forward. We are going through a real crisis with ramifications our modern information-age society has not experienced before. We are going into NEW territory. Maps based on the old terrain can be useful in terms of formatting and putting data into context, but of virtually NO use plotting trajectories. Except in the most general terms.
Let's be clear. This is yet one more "are we there yet" topics. Here focused at earlier stages of the process than most of the others, but nonetheless one more "are we there yet" refrain.
Same answer: NO.
Same forecast: IRCC appears to be undertaking measures toward resuming some degree of operations but is clearly still far short of resuming normal operations, and there is little prospect of getting back even close to normal operational functionality for awhile still. So the best anyone can offer is LOOKS like IRCC is TRYING, but still has a LONG, LONG way to go, and if anything the in-fact timeline for applications currently in process (and those received but not yet opened) will almost certainly be more than 12 months. The only question is how much more. And if we knew, I am afraid the answer would be rather disappointing. Sorry.
I mostly responded here because of how much focus there has been on something that is of NO import, the so-called "clock," to try to minimize the extent to which the forum discussion might be misleading about what IRCC's posted timeline information means . . . even in NORMAL times, let alone now.
But it also seems that this forum needs constant reminders that this is a very unusual situation, and one that is continuing to develop. Last thing MPs or IRCC or any of our public officials need, right now, is to have their offices diverted by unnecessary and, frankly, pointless inquiries. They will publish relevant information soon enough for applicants to make pertinent decision-making. For now, hard as it is, sit-and-wait is the game.
Further note re the published 12 month time line: While it means "most" applications, for the PAST period calculated, were processed in that amount of time, do not overlook that this also means, for even that period of time, that as many as NEARLY HALF of the applications took LONGER than 12 months to process.