Do I need to go to the Consulate or can/should I use an agent?

Hi there, I live in Nova Scotia, so the closest Consulate is in Montreal, or Embassy in Ottawa. I'm currently waiting to get my work permit from my employer and would like to have the visa processed as quickly as possible. Would you recommend using an agent or the Consulate/Embassy? And if I was paying for expedited, 1 day processing, what would it cost + the fee?