I'm a 2019 Dec applicant as well, in-Canada protected person application received in CPC-Sauga Dec 21st. The process came to a halt for sure, the applications are not being processed i believe. I know this for a fact because I contacted IRCC in 3 month intervals since December 2019, one in march 2020, june 2020, and finally September 2020. Their answer is always the same "Furthermore, we can confirm that the responsible office is currently processing applications received before October 28, 2019."
this is honestly unacceptable. If you look at countries such as the UK, and Australia, as soon as a refugee is granted his/her status after the hearing, the PR process is automatic and quick, my relatives in the UK after their hearing received their UK resident cards in 3 months in the mail. There is no approval or legibility BS, because that's what the hearing in front of the judge is for. According to the UN charter and geneva convention once granted protection by a country, the individual automatically has to receive a pathway to citizenship or in fact the status rendered by the respective nation is annulled. Which is why when you see previous refugees that have lived in countries like turkey, and jordan before settling in Canada as protected persons are still given status in canada because the canadian refugee law recognizes that countries that don't grant pathways to citizenship and attached legal rights after protection are not by definition 'safe zones' because the protected person will never enjoy the rights of citizens, and will be treated as a secondary class citizen. Yet Canada itself is partially making this mistake by making protected persons go through a second process after being granted status to qualify for PR.
I hope they follow suit with the UK, Australia, and the US and grant the PR status immediately after the hearing is approved. It makes no sense to go through the same process as skilled worker immigration, spousal etc
I wish everyone luck, we are all on limited timelines, and canada with such a low population, and poor economy could definitely use the extra workforce, tax, and diversity.