Unfortunately, IRCC has become stricter with BOWP approvals for non-Express Entry applicants, especially since late 2023. While many applicants in the past received BOWPs based solely on their AOR and provincial nomination, more recent cases—especially those processed through offices like Winnipeg—are seeing refusals unless eligibility is clearly passed in the system. This appears to be more of a shift in internal processing policy rather than an officially published new rule. The inconsistency between applicants and processing offices makes the situation even more difficult to navigate.
It’s really unfortunate that you’ve been caught in this gap, especially when other parts of your PR application are progressing. If your restoration and BOWP are still under review, it might help to submit a webform explaining your situation and highlighting the progress on your PR file. If refused again, you may need to explore alternative options such as an LMIA-based work permit, if feasible, or consider staying in maintained status (visitor) while waiting for eligibility to be confirmed.