If and when you get a request for your passport...

[Eric Parker]

...does that mean that until you get that passport back with the visa data stamped in it, you will not be able to travel to and from Canada?

Would there be something to use in lieu of this fact or is the person just plain out of luck to travel? Would border officials be aware of that fact? Seems like a useless hardship to put on a person who has been approved for a PR.

 

[mitamata]

Just because you're granted PR doesn't mean you can suddenly cross borders with no papers
Yes, you need your passport, there's no replacement for it. Though I think you can cross the US-Canada border without it if you have a Nexus card? Somebody could confirm that.
A lot of people mail their passport in so they don't have to mess with that border stuff. Buffalo can send it back to you in Canada when they're done with it.