The Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation has released a progress report on its five-year plan to reduce poverty in the province.

The report provides an update on the plan’s nine priority actions, recent data on poverty in New Brunswick, the work accomplished by the community inclusion networks, and other government and community initiatives supporting vulnerable residents.

The report shows a 51 per cent reduction in the number of people living with a low-income between 2015 and 2020; a 76 per cent reduction in the number of children (under 18) living in poverty between 2015 and 2020; a 63 per cent reduction in the number of couples living in poverty between 2015 and 2020; and a 32 per cent reduction in the number individuals living in poverty between 2015 and 2020.

The report also found that poverty rates in New Brunswick compare favorably with other Atlantic provinces.

Data from the Statistics Canada 2020 Canadian Income Survey, the most recent available, was included in the report.