I have been following 2020 applications and they are moving quick perhaps I was just counting all 2020 as online but as you say since you have more access, if 2020 are starting to move slow then its probably another backlog in the making. But I see no movement in Montreal dont know why.
Early 2020 seems to be moving a bit slow but we don't know if that's the actual reality or people are simply not updating the spreadsheet. Online applications were only introduced in December 2020 so you can't consider all 2020 applicants (11 months worth of applicants) under the "Online applications" bracket. Still, I have seen several early 2020 applicants received DM and Oath invitations in the past 1.5 months.
From what I noticed with some 2020 applicants is that Montreal office is pretty quick in setting "Language", "Physical Presence" and "Prohibitions" to "Completed". Several Montreal applicants (or generally applicants in Quebec) have seen "Language" and "Physical Presence" set to "Completed" even before the test. Once they complete the test, "Citizenship Test" and "Prohibitions" are set to complete and that's "Decision Made".
This was exclusive to Montreal applicants until I found out about 3 cases in the past 2 weeks where (specifically) Brampton applicants saw very quick DM from test (where "Language" and "Physical Presence" and "Prohibitions" were set to "Completed" even before the test).
Your delay seems to be more because of the general delay of 2019 applicants rather than a delay with Montreal office. Some Montreal applicants were the first to receive test invitations in September 2020.
