Madam Chair, this amendment presents a real problem.
If we agreed that we could hold discussions and receive witnesses even with a reduced quorum, it was because we wanted to be sure that we could hear the witnesses whose evidence costs us a lot of money and who use their own time to come before the committee.
If we now agree that there is to be a government member in the reduced quorum...we could have three people, but if one of them has to be a government member and the government is not in agreement with the meeting we are holding, the member will not show up and the meeting will not be held. I am completely against that.
As the motion is worded, it can be two government members and one opposition member. We ask that at least one opposition member be there, and that is very good. There could be two government members and then you would have the upper hand. There is no way I can agree to requiring a government member.