i am also in BC (Vancouver), maybe i can share my experience with you. I passed my driving exam here in AUg 2012, at that time my work permit expired in late Aug 2012, so they didnt give me a license , or i should say they just offer a yellow paper as interim license becos ICBC said my work permit is not valid for more than 6 months.
As that yellow paper was only good for 3 months, I approached ICBC when it expires, again without AIP yet, ICBC just offers me another yellow paper for another 2 months and told me to go back to renew every 2 months. Then later I got AIP + OWP in December, and approached ICBC in January 2013, the person at the counter offered me a license valid till my OWP expires. but surprisingly, after 2 weeks when ICBC mailed me the driver license, they offer a 2 year validity