If I understand this correctly, does this mean that popular GCMS notes website receive an update every two weeks of all the tracking numbers filed by them?
Was this the case back in just late 2019 or does this still happen?
I can neither confirm nor deny. Any settlement or agreement that is reached, is confidential and the exact terms and conditions, time frames etc. cannot be disclosed.
Eventually, all requests, whether you file them yourself, through a relative, a friend, a website, a company etc. are all treated the same and processed in accordance with the Access to Information Act. Some requests will be released before others, and some will get extensions, some will just keep pending for over 30 days. How you want to obtain your information is ultimately your choice.
There have been proposals that any ATIP request to obtain someone else's information, should be either made open to anyone who is dealing with the agency, which will include all applicants who have filed an application with IRCC so that they can obtain their own information, or be limited to licensed professionals, such as lawyers, consultants, para legals, or Quebec notaries. Unless this is notified as an amendment or though an order in council, the existing law will prevail.
Another proposal is to show page 2 as it appears in the GCMS notes on the MyCIC portal with dates when each stage was passed, thereby doing away with most requests for GCMS.
The biggest reason for delays is 75 IRCC employees dealing with over a 100,000 requests, amid lockdowns, closures.
49% of all requests filed with IRCC were delayed and 6% took longer than 120 days to be released.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/access-information-act-privacy-act-2019-2020.html