I called CIC regarding renewing the PR Card and the lady told me first to use the starting date, even it is was longer than 5 years ago. When I told her that the form just says 5 years or from becoming a PR she said I was making her unsure and offered to get a second opinion from a colleague. She finally told me to use 5 years from the date I submit the application.
Also, I decided to ask the lawyer I used for my PR application in 2007. This is what he said:
"To renew your PR card, only the time after you became a PR is relevant for the purpose of calculating the 730 day residence period; however, for Citizenship, ALL of the days in the 4 year period prior to the application are relevant because time spent in Canada with a work permit or study permit before you became a PR count towards the 1,095 (3 year) period"
For Citizenship I'll use the 4 years period and for renewing the PR card 5 years.
Regarding work documentation, I'll use the NOAs and maybe a letter of employment. I'm hesitant to include documentation CIC does not request. Too much of something useful does not necessarily make it better...
