Progress report on poverty reduction plan released – Government of NB

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation released today a progress report on Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan 2014-2019. The report documents actions and initiatives that are part of the provincial plan.

The report includes information on poverty in New Brunswick for the years 2009 to 2015, and comparable data for Atlantic Canada and Canada, based upon the three most-utilized poverty measures. A section of the report presents stories that take place in the province and which have an impact on community inclusion networks, community organizations, individuals, businesses and government. A third section provides a status of the plan’s 28 priority actions.

“The New Brunswick model for poverty reduction is showing positive results based on impressive numbers,” said Nick Ganong, chair of the corporations’ board of directors. “A large number of goals originally established in the first Overcoming Poverty Together Plan have been achieved or surpassed. Some challenges remain but we believe that collectively, we can work towards ensuring greater inclusion of all New Brunswickers.”

Highlights of the report include:

• A reduction of between 12 per cent and 43 per cent – depending upon the measure used – of the number of female lone-parent families living in poverty between 2009 and 2015.

• A reduction of between 28 per cent and 34 per cent  – depending upon the measure used and the data available – of the number of all couple families living in poverty from 2009 to 2011.

• A reduction of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent  – depending upon the measure used and the data available – of the number of unattached individuals living in poverty from 2009 to 2014.

• From 2009 to 2015, deep poverty remained stable at 4.3 per cent. A number of regions have seen a significant reduction in deep poverty.

• Poverty rates are about the same nationwide. However, New Brunswick compares favorably with other Atlantic provinces.

• More than 450 projects focusing upon economic and social inclusion have received funding. These projects generated community engagement of more than 90,000 New Brunswickers.

• Each dollar funded by the corporation yielded a return on investment of close to $6.

The non-partisan plan builds upon the collaboration of governments, business and non-profit sectors as well as people who live or have lived in poverty, and works to provide all residents with the necessary resources to meet their basic needs and to live with dignity, security and good health.

“The spirit of Overcoming Poverty Together is aspirational; economic and social inclusion are now taken into consideration at various decision-making levels,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister John Ames, who is also minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation. “Every sector is finding ways to contribute to the success of this well-recognized initiative that has inspired several other plans and strategies.”

The progress report is available online.

The Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation is a Crown corporation that co-ordinates and supports implementation of the Overcoming Poverty Together plan. The corporation’s board of directors is composed of members representing residents with lived experience, non-profit groups, businesses and government.

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