EssGee, Thanks a lot for the detailed response.
I filled the "IMM1295-Application For Work Permit made outside of Canada" form for my spouse but I don't know if they filed it further or not as my company has not been very transparent on this. As per the company's contact person, she should get a passport request soon (may that is a TRV!) and the work visa would be given to her on the port of entry... I don't know if this is a valid process or not and how correct my company guy is
Meanwhile, we had to travel to India so we are not from a Visa exempt country anymore which complicates things further. Shall we apply for TRV for all of us in this case?