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IRCC in 2025 issued ~3,300 AIP stage 1 approval while in the same year only ~800 applicants officially were able to land under H&C straight program!!!
 

Not sure I would consider this reform. As you correctly point out given the backlog IRCC seems to be depending on people being removed or given up on H&C versus actually reforming a program. Denying applications and then overwhelming the courts seems to be another strategy.
 
IRCC in 2025 issued ~3,300 AIP stage 1 approval while in the same year only ~800 applicants officially were able to land under H&C straight program!!!

Which is exactly why the program is not functional. We’ll wait and see how many hot AIP in 2026 but I think it will be much lower given how big the backlog already is.