Just wanted to update this thread, they approved my application and issued me a temporary ATPL for free, ADB on standby due to the ongoing Canada Post strike; but I'm happy they took the initiative to do this.

Now on to the next challenge

Great to hear!

Note to other posters with similar circumstances: it helps to have a clue what you want and respond when people offering advice ask you questions. There's far too many threads on here where people ask some advice-type questions without having done any research and then when someone who tries to help them asks clarifying questions, they don't respond.