Actually, I am wondering how it is that these people arrive Canada and what their status was.
Once they arrive in Canada, they marry. However, what is quite relevant is how they got into the country. Perhaps our witnesses in Montreal can elaborate on that.
In my opinion, if a person enters Canada with a particular status and asks Immigration Canada to change the rules to obtain a second status, there are consequences and risks.
My fundamental point is essentially you unbuckle yourself from the immigration system at a certain point in time. If you're inland, legally here, entering into a marriage that may or may not work out, or common-law relationship that may or may not be there for the right reason, when does the responsibility of Immigration Canada end? Isn't this issue part of a wider issue to protect women's rights? That's why my recommendation is: don't silo this at Immigration Canada. Do not do it.