In normal circumstances, yes it could have been discrimination, however many outland applicants with COPR have not been able and/or not allowed to travel, and in many cases their COPR have expired. I believe this is the reason that IRCC MIGHT be focusing on inland applicants as they don't need other formalities to travel to Canada, but there is no hard evidence/data to prove this. This in my personal view.CIC is working on inland applications only
No outland applicants got any updates like MR,PPC anything
It's discrimination.