Renewing Tourist Visa

[tlghskn]

This has probably been answered already but I could not find a clear answer on cic.gc.ca:
I have a valid tourist visa to Canada that expires in february 2017. Can I apply for an extension (or re-apply) for it before my current visa expires in february 2017? If so how and when? In case it matters: I am not in Canada right now.

 

[Bs65]

Others can comment but do not see any reason why not. If you were in Canada you would use the extend stay as visitor option but not aware of any restrictions that say when you can or cannot apply for a new visa which would anyway just cancel out the one expiring in Feb 2017. In any case being late in December now any application might not get processed until new year so not as though you are applying many months out.