Just like to share this with the sponsored person who did not send an open work permit application with their PR application, you can still apply for OWP any time before AIP but only by mail:
Sir, Madam,
Thank you for contacting Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I am pleased to follow up on your request:
Open Work Permit - Permanent Residence under the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class
As an exception, you can apply for an open work permit if you:
Have applied for permanent residence (PR) under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class and your application has been approved in principle*; or
Are a family member** of the person listed above and are included in their application for PR.
To apply for a work permit, you must:
Apply online on our website; or
Send an Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker to the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta;
the application is available on our website.
Visit our website to see how long it may take to process your application.
Please note that you must wait for your work permit to be approved before starting to work.
Also note that if the sponsored person did not send an open work permit application with their PR application, they can send it by mail, at any time while the PR application is in process, by writing Open Work Permit - Application for permanent residence in Canada - Spouse or common-law partner at the top of the form. They should also include proof that the PR application was submitted. The open work permit application cannot be submitted online.
If you want to apply for a work permit before your application for PR is approved in principle, you will need a job offer letter and an LMO. In this case, you must apply for a work permit at a Canadian visa office:
Responsible for your country of residence;
Responsible for your country of nationality; or
In the country where you have been legally admitted.
*Approved in principle means that you received a letter from the Case Processing Centre/local office stating that you are eligible to apply for permanent resident (PR) status but that a final decision will not be made until all requirements for becoming a PR have been met. These requirements include medical, security and background checks for you and, if applicable, your family members.
** A family member is a spouse, common-law partner, dependent child or dependent child of a dependent child.