Some here seem to think I like to defend IRCC - but what you describe as the strategy to hit the targets, I can absolutely believe that this would be an approach they would adopt. (Not because I'm anti-government, but because I think this is the way all large bureaucracies, private or govt, tend to think and act in practice)
A few thoughts:
-It will be pointless to attempt to say that this strategy is what is being done UNLESS you can get some actual information through an access to information request.
-Nonetheless, pushing the media and political narrative is the main thing you can do to keep the pressure up.
-Key point: I would STRONGLY suggest adding to your messages that if government wants to meet its targets for immigration, the BEST group to focus on approving quickly is spousal sponsorship applications.
Background: I believe government measures immigration in immigrants that actually arrive and land in Canada. Approvals may be tracked but government sets these targets to get actual new arrivals, and that's what is reported.
In fact, it's a bit odd for government to run these big express entry competitions when the vast majority of those who would get approved right now under Express Entry (for example) cannot even enter Canada due to the covid border restrictions.
