The reason why I accepted a mandate such as this one is precisely the Commissioner's independence in the mandate he carries out. As I said earlier, I have administrative and budgetary independence. I hire the staff I want, I'm not subject to the rules of the public service with regard to hiring staff. So I have physical independence, which I consider extremely important.
But even more important, I have total freedom of action in the reviews I undertake. No one can obstruct me in any way. It would not even come to the CSE's mind to refuse the things I request, to refuse documents that I want to see or to refuse me permission to meet its employees whom I want to meet.
That helps reassure me—my team and me—that things are being done properly and in accordance with the act. That's what I think is the most important aspect from a professional standpoint, as Commissioner. I know that the reviews my team has conducted were done in an absolutely free manner and that the result must be free. Whether or not the government or the CSE agrees with the result, I just don't care.