Hi, I would hazard a guess that things "could" be stuck at Case Management Branch. They have all sorts of authorities.
Case Management Branch provides direction, support, and decision-making with regards to complex, high-profile, sensitive and/or contentious immigration, citizenship and passport cases. Also provides direction and support for certain litigation files.
The link below simply illustrates just how expansive their delegated authorities are:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/canadian-citizenship/instrument-delegation.html
I don't know what issue could arise to see the application that you're concerned about be directed to CMB, but Visa Offices do not like to warehouse cases, and CMB makes their living doing it. They have to make the call on the case-types listed above. Some "might" be left with the impression that they don't really speed through their inventories of unresolved applications.
It's simply a guess on my part and you'd know the applicant's history well enough to understand if there is a possibility that something in the history of the applicant could see the decision bumped up to the CMB level.
Good luck and happy holidays,