Health Minister John Haggie says Newfoundland and Labrador is a leader when it comes to mental health and addictions.

Haggie claims that there are two provinces all of his colleagues go to when they want to talk about addictions: British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

He says the one province they go to when they want to talk about e-mental health and how to transform their mental healthcare system is Newfoundland and Labrador.

And the health minister says we’re not just leading on the Canadian stage.

Haggie says five years ago they went to New Zealand to learn new ways of transforming the mental healthcare system here.

“They’re coming to us now to say how have you done it and kind of go away with ‘wow’ and stars in their eyes,” Haggie explained.

He gives the staff at the Department of Health around mental health and addictions a major shoutout for their work.

Haggie also gives all Regional Health Authorities a huge nod for making this a banner program internationally.