I just got off the phone with my MP's office. They spoke with IRCC and had some promising information for some of you.
First, despite myCIC stating "Background Check is needed in progress" and being told that they are working on Security and Criminality, they stated we are in first stage processing now that all documents have been received that they require (does that include CSIS/RCMP reports I wonder?). They advised it will take 16 months for this stage, and 10 months for the second stage. Which sounds like the typical line that CIC feeds people.
But I asked a question regarding SIR and got an interesting answer. CIC created a Backlog office to deal with the Spousal Inventory Backlog. SIR is an on-going project, and every case in inventory is part of it. There is no cherry-picking or selection. It's a big pot and every one's case is in it. This will continue until they have a reasonable inventory level and until they can maintain it.
They also asked my MP's office not to call so much. They told them that they should call every couple months (lol!)