It took several months. I had to go through freedom of information because a lot of the files weren't readily available to me or my lawyer. At the same time as I was doing that, Corrections identified someone as a witness for the courts. They provide documents for the courts. They're not a witness for the applicant or against the applicant; they're a witness for the courts.
As for the way the process works now, a judge determines whether or not there's a likelihood or probability that the application will be successful. So even after the applicant has applied, the judge can determine there's no probability, and that person will not get to apply.