HRSDC, time's running out - what should I do?!

My partner has been in Canada on a working holiday visa for almost a year now, and his visa expires August 23. He is British/Australian.
His employer has written him a job offer and sent it to HRSDC a couple of weeks ago, and we haven't heard anything yet.

Here is the problem - CIC says that a work visa application should be sent at least 30 days before the expiration of the applicant's current visa.
Should we send in the complete application, except for the HRSDC job confirmation, and then send in the confirmation once we get it (assuming that we get it)?
I'm a bit leary as it to sending in an incomplete application, but I don't want him to be denied of a work visa just because our application arrived late.
Or, should we apply for a visitor's visa now, and then send in the complete application once we get HRSDC?

I would really appreciate it if someone could offer any advice.