Once you have passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course it's time to fill in your PAL application. I cannot stress enough how important it is to take your time and fill this out form correctly the first time. Above all, do NOT use your wife or common-law spouse as a reference. While nowhere on the form does it state that this is not allowed, the CFC web site lists this as one of the "Top 10" reasons why an application is returned. Once correctly filled in and mailed off to the CFC, the long wait begins.

While nothing I'm suggesting here is likely to speed up the process, it does put those in charge of this legislation on notice that we are paying attention. The more people who let the government know how they feel about being forced to wait for services we have paid for, the better.

Now the paragraph above was written two days before some new information came to light. I wrote to the BC CFO, my MP, MLA, Justice Minister and Garry Breitkreuz ten days ago to let them know I was not happy with the long delays in getting my firearms license.

Today, 10 days from the date I mailed those letters, my wife received a phone call from the CFC. She answered their questions and was told that my license would be issued in 2 to 3 weeks. She was also told that my application was being expedited BECAUSE of my letters.

VERY INTERESTING, to say the least. Make noise to your MP's and you get to bypass the backlog. Don't bitch, you get to wait until they damn well feel like processing your application. Gotta love the way this legislation is being implemented!

Here is a copy of the letter I wrote.

But enough of my ranting, and on to the information you'll need.

First, since there is a 4 week waiting period before they process your applicaiton, wait until 6 weeks after you send your application to Miramichi. Then, get out a piece of paper and write today's date at the top. Then telephone the CFC at 1-800-731-4000 and ask them if your application has arrived. If it has, find out where it is in the approval process. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE DOWN THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU TALK TO. Above all, be polite. Not only is it the decent thing to do, they have something YOU want! Remember that the person you are talking to is simply doing their job. They did not write the legislation. So, be polite.

If they tell you your application has been given to your province's CFO, ask when it was transferred to the CFO's office, and then ask them to connect you to the CFO's office. Write down the date it was transferred to the CFO's office on your piece of paper. Once connected, GET THE NAME OF THE PERSON YOU ARE TALKING TO at the CFO's office and write it down. Ask them if they have recieved your application, since it was sent to them by the CFC on <insert the date CFC gave you here>. Ask them when you can expect to have it processed.

Likely you will get the same answer I did, which is that there is a tremendous backlog, and they are dealing with it as quickly as they can and no, they cannot tell you where your application is in the backlog.

Keep this piece of paper with all relevant information. If you still have not received your license after a further 2 weeks, it's time to start writing letters. Hopefully your results will match mine!

Draft your letter to the CFO expressing your concern over the long delay in having your application processed. If the CFC has already cashed your cheque, make sure you get the date it cleared your bank and make reference to how quickly they were able to cash the cheque, yet you're still waiting for your license. In my case, they cashed the cheque within 6 days of my mailing the application.

Once the letter is drafted, send copies to the following: Your federal MP, your provincial MLA, the Justice Minister, and Reform MP Garry Breitkreuz. Mr. Breitkreuz is the Justice Critic for the Official Opposition and is doing a great job of prying information out of the feds. The more ammunition we can send him the better. Once you receive your license, let Mr. Breitkreuz know how long the process was from start to finish. Again, this information helps him do his job.

Addresses for all the recipients are later on in this page.

Below are the addresses for each of the provincial Chief Firearms Officers.

Also send a copy of your letter to your provincial wildlife associaton. The addresses for each Provincial association is listed below:

• Anne McLellan - Minister of Justice, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
• Garry Breitkreuz - MP, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
• To find your federal MP, go to http://www.parl.gc.ca/36/senmemb/house/membcon-e.htm

To find out who your provincial MLA is, try the following links: