Yes, I am very much in favour of the commissioner having quasi-judicial powers. That is already the case in Quebec.
At the federal level, department heads move around and they do not necessarily have expertise, whereas the commissioner does. Why shouldn't we use that expertise and give the commissioner real powers? That way, once the matter reaches the Federal Court, the spadework would already have been done and it would truly be a judicial review. Even the court could draw on the commissioner's expertise. The court should also consider the commissioner's decision, which would be more than a mere recommendation.