Overcoming Poverty Together:
New Brunswick’s
Economic and Social Inclusion Plan
In October 2008, the provincial government announced a public engagement initiative that gave New Brunswickers the opportunity to become involved in reducing and preventing poverty. It was decided that everyone should be included in finding solutions to the economic and social problems related to poverty.
After a comprehensive consultation process that included almost 2,500 participants, including people living in or who have experienced poverty, representatives from the non-profit community, the business community, the provincial government, and the official Opposition, Overcoming Poverty Together (OPT1) was developed and adopted.
The Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation (ESIC) was created to incubate, foster, and drive the plan. The Economic and Social Inclusion Act was adopted at the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick to support the plan and the Corporation’s efforts in its implementation.
The Act stipulates that the plan must be renewed every five years through a public engagement process. In the fall of 2013, ESIC conducted a second public engagement initiative – Public Dialogues – which led to the creation of a second plan, Overcoming Poverty Together 2014‑2019 (OPT2). Another public engagement process took place in the spring of 2019, leading to the creation of the third plan: Overcoming Poverty Together 2020-2025 (OPT3). This third plan, which has a new vision, was presented to New Brunswickers on March 5, 2020. In the spring of 2024, ESIC conducted the public engagement process that paved the way for the fourth plan, Overcoming Poverty Together 2025-2030 (OPT4), launched on February 19, 2025.
Highlights of Overcoming Poverty Together
Throughout the Years
In New Brunswick, a great deal of work has been accomplished since the launch of the first OPT plan in 2010:
Social assistance reforms,
The development and introduction of the Healthy Smiles, Clear Vision plan for children of families with a low income,
The development and introduction of the New Brunswick Drug Plan, which provides drug coverage for people without a prescription drug plan,
Frequent increases to the minimum wage, including indexation to the cost of living,
The implementation of community transportation services across the province,
The development and implementation of 211NB,
The promotion of financial literacy, including help with income tax filing, and
The development of over 675 community projects related to transportation, food security, mental health, and other important priorities.