RPAL story in Quebec
Location: Montreal, Quebec.
So, after all the waiting, the courses, the waiting, the fees, the waiting, the application, the waiting, the correction of CFP mistakes, the waiting, the reference interview game, and more waiting, I have finally succeeded in getting my RPAL in Quebec.
Here's an abridged timeline to hopefully help others in Quebec gauge what to expect:
Oct 11 CRFSC Course.
Oct 27 Rec'd CRFSC certificate.
Nov 3 CFSC Course.
Nov 22 Rec'd CFSC Certificate.
Nov 22 Mailed RPAL Application Xpress Post.
Nov 27 Rec'd and signed for in Miramichi.
Nov 27 First initiation live fire at CTVSP with instructor.
Dec 15 Second Range trip to Ruisseau Noir as a guest.
Dec 29 Third Range Trip to CRAFM as a guest.
Jan 11 Credit Card Charged 80$, File showed up online status = "Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress".
Jan 12 Called the CFO to inquire if I could have my interview or references to call-in, but was told that my (Quebec) In-Person filing form was not included with my application, so they've sent me a letter requesting it. I know with 100%
certainty that I DID include it, and I still have the recepit portion of the same form in-hand.
Jan 12 Went to re-complete the In-Person filing at local police station a second time, with copies in paper and digital. Called CFP again: told that only fax was the quickest method, and even that would be 5 business days to be received.
Complied and sent the faxes. Fax machine at 1-800-411-0622 is not answering. Called CFP again and was given another fax number. Sent fax again to 1-888-449-7911 with the same result. Waited an hour, tried both fax numbers
again, both failed to receive a fax, I attempted using two different fax services for both attempts. CFP Offices now closed for weekend. ARG! Multiple fax attempts from Internet services and an analog fax machine. In total only 1
analog fax seemed to actually go through to the secondary number.
Jan 15 Called CFP to try to confirm fax status: Spoke with Beth, relayed the situation, and she gave me a third number to try: 1-888-726-1288. I sent using online service, and eventually, she did receive it! Beth promised to get it to the right
department for inclusion in my file.
Jan 17 Called CFP to inquire on status: received the fax successfully, and now assigned to CFO of Quebec.
Jan 17 Law 9 course at CRAFM: Passed Theory 100% and Practical 100%, Temporary Attestation received. Also took the CTM Range Safety course the same night prior membership.
Jan 26 It been 9 weeks (45 business days since application was signed for), so I called the CFP: "They don't know anything about how Quebec handles the approvals - just wait"
Called the Quebec CFO: was told that the correct way to call
them was 1-800-731-4000 x7005 (other # is for police to call in only). Called the extension instead and spoke to the exact same person who just spoke to me (Eric Brossard): He verified that my application was processed and only
missing the interviews portion, and that the calls could come even today as he'll pass the message along to the department that makes the call-outs... 30 minutes later, I get a call from Francois B. to do my interview, which went
smoothly and was pleasant. He had already called my two references, reached and completed one, he left a VM for the other who is travelling at the moment. He offered a direct line if I could get ref#2 to call in, and that it would be
approved pending that. I did my best to get my 2nd ref connected to the CFO agent, but it took a couple days.
Jan 30 Online Status changed to "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program"
Feb 6 RPAL card received in the mail from Miramichi to Montreal. The credit card is now quivering in anticipation!
So, 6 months from the day I first signed up for the first safety class to the day I have an RPAL in-hand. I've really learned alot of patience throughout the process and am very happy to finally join the ranks of the LEGAL firearms owners.
I'm off this very same night to commence the binge of purchasing *almost everything I've been drooling over for half a year.
