No. The elements remain nationality, ownership of at least fifty percent by treaty nationals, substantial capital genuinely committed and at risk, a real operating commercial enterprise, non-marginality, and a develop-and-direct role. A pause is examined for what it says about those elements, not treated as an automatic bar.
Show the enterprise is paused, not dormant
The decision to make now is which records prove the enterprise still exists as an operating business rather than an idea on hold. Continuing rent, insurance, retained staff, maintained inventory and unrecoverable spending all evidence capital remaining at risk. Note also that treaty eligibility follows citizenship, not residence in Canada, so a Sainte-Julie address does not itself establish qualifying nationality for the applicant or the owners.
Set out the investor's contributions separately from operating receipts: equipment, software development, prepaid marketing, deposits, and payroll funded from your capital. Rebuild the investment schedule from the amended purchase agreement, inventory, payments, refunds and operating commitments. The franchisor's standards on branding, minimum inventory and approved suppliers are ordinary commercial controls and do not, on their own, defeat direction. Direction and development require at least 50 percent ownership or another means of operational control.
Draw the ownership chain through every holding entity and attach passport evidence for each relevant owner.