I just had a very horrible experience with the VAC office in paris. Sent my passport since 5th june and up till now the embassy hasnt received my passport. I was only able to sort it out today after constant calling and emailing, to the extent that they blocked my number. Please send ur passport directly to the embassy. The VAC have very inefficient staff. And you can't contact them only thru the call centre which is handled by a different body. They will frustrate you take it from me.
As I understood it, if you are from a visa exempt country, send a passport copy to the embassy (IRCC Paris). If you are not from a visa exempt country, send passport to the VAC