I did not add ties to my home country and did not provide proof that I would leave Canada at the end of my stay. It was a dual intent letter that I am expected to stay here in Canada until receiving the decision of the PR application. And that I will be extending again in the case the the PR processing take longer than the usual timeline.
We did have to request twice for a 1 year extension in the last two years which both are approved. First, when we need to extend to complete the 1 year cohabitation rules to be considered CLP and 2nd while were are submitting the PR Application. I personally wanted to have legal status no matter what.
Also in both extension my partner always include the lines "This visitor record / visa extension and his stay here in Canada to be with me is crucial to our relatioship."