Mel,
Yeah, we all need to hope for the best. Listen this story. May be I already told you this, just want to remind you again.
My wife knows some one, who applied for visa in May 2010. Her med expired just 3 days after Tamil-Shinhala New Year. She went embassy to ask for update a week before new year. They told her that they will call her if they need anything from her. She told them "my med is expiring in a week or so"... they replied "Yes, we know". She return home without any good news.
They called her just 2 days before new year and asked her if she can get a ticket to get in canada before med expires. Due new year holidays-mood, most of the travel agents were closed. Unfortunetally, She couldnt get ticket on that day. Following 3 days were holidays and then weeked. As a result she lost the chance to get visa and get into canada before med expired. When she went back to embassy, after new year, they told her that "you med has expried and we cannot give you visa now". She asked them "do you want me to redo med" ..they replied.."we will contact you whenver we needed".
So to avoid this kind of situation, just tell your man to be preparied. For embassy we are one of 100000 ppl. For us it is life.
He can book ticket just 3 days before med expries. If he get good news then he can purchace the ticket else cancel it.
I am going to do something like that for my wife.