I understand the point that Chris is making, but I don't necessarily agree. I think we also have to build in the fact that the government side has the advantage in terms of access to information, etc. I would argue that it's the opposition that needs to question witnesses in any committee more than the government side does, for that very reason--that you have access to all the resources, etc.
I think the reason committees have this reduced quorum, the reason it's necessary even more so.... Let's put our cards on the table. In the last Parliament it became a strategy, with all due respect, of the government side to get up and walk out of meetings if they didn't like the direction the meeting was going in, at which time quorum would be lost and we would lose that day. Witnesses were often flown in from other parts of the country and sent home because the government side was not willing to let the meeting go ahead. The way this is structured here, that wouldn't be possible. As long as three members were present, including one member of the opposition, no such stunts would be possible.
In the interest of getting off to a good start, I think we should maintain the status quo and carry on.