First of all, thank you very much for not only your comments today but, during several of my checks when I couldn't help but listen in, Madam Kusie, I appreciated some of the words you said, particularly on my role as natural resources minister. I think many members recognize I took my responsibilities there to heart. One thing I will take with me is the importance of workers to our natural resources sector not only here now but also into the future.
I will cut to the chase. We are open to amendments, yes. We are open to, I think, good, constructive conversations, and certainly I would look at anything in writing that was brought forward.
There were some issues, for instance, on the accumulation of sick days. As we'd said, they would accumulate as presented to you, one per month. Perhaps we could offer a certain number of days as a minimum up front. I think we are willing to look at anything, Madam Kusie, that would encourage people, or at least not cause people to hesitate, to stay home if they feel they may have symptoms.
I can tell you that the present imperative put upon us by omicron is real. Even since I spoke to the Senate yesterday, we have a better, although not complete, understanding of this variant. The importance of our acting upon this is so immediate.