I’d like to thank the member from Mississauga–Malton for standing with me at the bench as a guest coach, but making sure everyone understands—the team won; it had nothing to do with you or me, frankly. And I look forward to seeing you on your blades at some point down the road.

There are few things that I like more than getting into an environment where young people are doing something they love to do, and this tournament was a great example on so many levels of leadership, civility, pride, taking care of one another—it’s one of the things that team sports does. And to be a guest coach at the Little Native Hockey League tournament—the NHL from now on—became an inclusive opportunity for us to contribute to see how young people truly understand how the game is played. Coaches take care of the kids, there was no harassment of players and parents loved being there. It was an environment that will foster—and 184 teams—

The other side of is this tournament—not only was it unique in many ways, but it had an offshoot where the young people could go and look at tourism to see if this was in fact an opportunity not for a job, but for a career. It’s not about jobs, it’s about finding a career, and they did such a wonderful job at this tournament exposing these young people to opportunity on and off the ice. That’s their job. That’s one of our jobs, Mr. Speaker.

The Ontario Arts Council’s funding is being maintained during the upcoming year, so be clear on that. And if we’re going to throw numbers around, since 2018 we have invested $1.1 billion in arts and culture through the ministry programs and agencies. This includes nearly $340 million for the OAC. We are proud to support it, we’ve worked with—and about meetings: I’m glad you brought that up, because we’ve had a number of meetings with the stakeholders, and we’ve sat down and talked with them.

It’s interesting: In our conversations, Mr. Speaker, they don’t talk about what they don’t have; they talk about what they do have, and what they do have is opportunity and budgets to work with. We’re proud of the way they work and how creative they’ve become, not only in their art but in their time and what they are doing.

So I guess the member—

Again, the creativity behind the way they looked at their industry and their businesses and how they continue to develop throughout the very difficult times—as it should make all of us stronger when we come out the other side, Mr. Speaker. This is a classic example in this sector, so I’m proud of what they are doing. We will continue to meet with them.

And yet again, I will tell you, when we sat at the table, when typically we are used to having somebody say, “Where is the money?” They didn’t ask for the money. They said, “How can you help us? Because we’re going to get better,” because that’s the way they think. That’s the way we think, Mr. Speaker.