I am not familiar with Canadian laws in regards to the process of getting a firearm (legally), but I do recall that you need to have a clean record, pass a background as well as mental health check, get the proper firearms safety and proficiency test to get a license, and even then, you may need some vetting from others before you are even allowed to own a firearm. It is not an easy process nor is it quick either. If you are getting a weapon, I might suggest a shotgun since it has more applicable uses (farming, hunting, and recreation (skeet shooting)) so you would have more of a reason than a handgun. Plus, the lethality of a shotgun is far greater than that of a pistol/handgun.