The fundamental difference between the Canadian Permanent Resident Card and the Canadian Passport is that the Canadian Permanent Resident Card is issued to permanent residents (immigrants), while the Canadian Passport can only be held by Canadian citizens.
1. A Canadian Passport can only be applied for after obtaining Canadian citizenship through naturalization.
2. The Canadian Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as the Maple Leaf Card, is specifically issued to permanent residents (immigrants). The validity of the Canadian Permanent Resident Card is five years from the date of issuance. New immigrants who obtain the Maple Leaf Card must reside in Canada for three years or more to be eligible to apply for citizenship and become Canadian citizens, after which they can hold a Canadian Passport.
Holding a Canadian Permanent Resident Card means you still hold Chinese nationality and possess a Chinese Passport. If you hold a Canadian Passport, it means you have become a Canadian citizen. The Canadian government accepts dual citizenship, which means you can be a Canadian citizen while also holding citizenship of another country.