I was in a similar situation. If you are flying from the USA, then should be easier as you can apply for the passport from the US. Try opting for the e-certificate. You can color print it and apply for passport. If they don't accept your request for e-certificate, then the hard copy will be delivered to the address you give and it can easily take more than a week. So make sureto give address of a friend who can receive the certificate and mail it to you. But if I were you, I would not leave Canada until I have the passport in hand. Once you have the certificate, you can apply for urgent passport processing if your flight is within the next 2 days. If the flight is withing a week, then they will process it as express and not urgent. In urgent application, you get the passport within a day or two. In express, you get it within 7 business days. If I were you, I will have the form filled and all my references and guarantors ready to sign the forms.