Yes, I appreciate that, and I appreciate the concern for my health as well.
The clerks have identified for me the section in O'Brien and Bosc that deals with that. Obviously, if I'm not here, then it goes to the first vice-chair, who has a choice of taking over the chair, and then the second vice-chair, if the second vice-chair were to be here.
If neither the first vice-chair nor the second vice-chair were to take the chair in my absence, “then an Acting Chair must be chosen to preside over a committee meeting”. It further reads:
With the committee's consent, the Chair of a standing or special committee may designate a member to act as Chair at a given meeting if it is known in advance that the Chair and the Vice-Chairs will not be attending. Where no Acting Chair has been designated, the committee clerk must preside over the election of an Acting Chair before the committee can begin its work.
My understanding, and the clerks may want to add to this, is that if I were to leave the chair and Ms. Nash or Mr. Brison were not here or did not want to take the chair, then the committee would have to elect a chair until I returned.
Maybe I'll ask the clerk to comment as well.