ля Людмилы:

If sponsorship termination happens before immigrant status is granted:

Sponsorship termination may happen when the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person (applicant) breaks down. If the sponsor decides to withdraw their sponsorship, it is important for the applicant to consult an immigration lawyer or legal aid clinic because Immigration Canada may then end its processing of the sponsorship application and the applicant may have to leave Canada. The applicant can still apply for permanent resident status based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds even though the sponsorship has been terminated because the sponsorship may have been terminated as a result of the applicant being subject to physical, sexual or mental abuse from the sponsor. Other factors which may be included in the application could be the applicant’s integration into life in Canada after a prolonged time here, Canadian work and language skills, family members in Canada and best interests of any children affected by the termination of the sponsorship.
http://mtcsalc.org/en/publications/immigration/family-class-sponsorship/?p=2