I know that this doesn't help you Chesty, but;
To buy any firearm in Canada you must have a PAL (Possession and acquisition License) or RPAL (Restricted PAL), and to get that you need to be 18.
All Pistols (and any AR type rifle) are deemed restricted, so you'll need an RPAL (and also, a part of getting the RPAL is that you have to be a member of a certified range). So yeah, any 18 year old can get their RPAL and buy a pistol here in Canada.