The journey started in November. I was invited to attend mandatory training for new GIC appointees. As acting chair, I decided to go, because I thought it would be a good thing for me to tell the new chair, him or her, what this training was all about.
At the training, I met people from Treasury Board and PCO. I had some questions with respect to terms and conditions for new members who were going to be appointed to my committee, where I'm working now. The lady from PCO who was there followed up with me a week later. During that conversation, she asked me if I would be interested in applying for a position of agent of Parliament. There were two positions at the time, Ethics Commissioner and Information Commissioner.
I was very flattered. I have to say that at that point, I was in a situation where I was getting ready for the new chair at the committee, so it was not something I'd thought about. But it was something that, for my own progression, I was definitely curious about. I looked into the mandate. I spent a week looking at what the commissions do. I realized it was very similar to what I've been doing for 17 years.
Those opportunities come only once every seven years, so I decided to apply. I applied online on November 20. I remember that, as it was the day after my birthday. It was a big decision. I did the interview on December 1. I did the psychometric testing. Then there was a recess during Christmas. We didn't hear anything until January. I was called by the chief of staff of the Treasury Board to make sure I was still interested, which I was. Then I was told that the consultation process was going to start.