In fact, the reduced quorum is an exceptional procedure. I would like to draw your attention to what it says here: “That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition”.
I don't know how this could be done, but I would like us to specify the following: the chair could hold the meeting, but should he not be able to attend, at least one of the two vice-chairs would have to be present.
I sat on the heritage committee when it carried out a study on cinema. We travelled from one end of Canada to the other, and quite often the chair of the committee could not be present. One of the two vice-chairs was then in charge of hearing evidence. We have to proceed in that manner.