This has sparked my curiosity – a few people I know mailed in their renewal application to CPC Mississauga and got the old design, with many receiving the new design by submitting their application to Quebec and Ottawa... There have also been a few instances where an in-person submission (Toronto Ctr, I believe) got the new design...
One suggested, on reddit, that they were advised by Passport Program "we are running short of new designs" – hence the irregularities in DPs, which is understandable.
Although it is clear these new e-passports require a different kind of printer, but I truly wonder which CPCs are the new printers located.

I called the Canadian High Commission in BKK just now and they have advised me that all batches coming from Ottawa are still showcasing the old design and was also told "please call us back in 2024" before they hung up. So it seems like non-CA / non-US PPTC applications are still being issued the old design.

For those who renewed, what are your DPs?