A friend spent less than a year in marriage with his wife, who requested 50% of his wealth. The court rejected this because it was short marriage. Check with the court or your lawyer when will you get the divorce order.
If you got some support letters from your friends to show that your ex is not living in Canada since some years, it may make your point clear to IRCC.
As your ex is PR and not living in Canada since some years, she is not a PR anymore after two years outside Canada, in most cases. I am not sure weather it be considered by IRCC/ court or not. Can someone confirm this information?
Based on the fact that your future wife got the visa for France and Japan, she may be able to get the visa to Canada as a visitor and you may apply for her from inside Canada.
I hope this helps.
Whether the ex lives in Canada or not is completely irrelevant to the new sponsorship app.
PR status must be renounced or formally revoked. She is still a PR. Again, irrelevant to the new sponsorship app.