I don't know all the specifics of the act. I've certainly not seen anything in the Elections Act that would allow the Chief Electoral Officer to stop an investigation. I can only rely on the testimony of the commissioner who indicated very clearly that he had the necessary operational independence.
If I could just add that if you talk about a question of perception, I don't know that it's any better to have the perception that the commissioner will indirectly report to a minister of the crown.