CIC Processing Times
/As of today, CIC has updated its application processing times. Unfortunately, the new system lumps together many different types of applications, which does not provide any accurate information about how much time your application will actually take. For example, all 'outside Canada" sponsorships of spouses is lumped into one time estimate, regardless of which visa office is processing the application. Historically, there has been a great variance in processing times from one visa office to another. The "real-life" impact of this will be to allow the Call Centre to refuse to answer any questions on the status of an application if this minimum has not passed.
Here is the link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp