The 50 participants to the Final Forum on Poverty in Saint John adopted the first-ever poverty reduction plan for the province.

Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan aims to reduce income poverty in the province by 25 per cent and deep income poverty by 50 per cent by 2015.

"What has been agreed is exceptional, and it will put us on the right path to achieving our poverty-reduction goals and helping thousands of New Brunswickers be more self-sufficient," said Premier Shawn Graham.

Participants at the forum agreed on specific initiatives to ensure ongoing collaboration between government, the business sector and the organizations delivering poverty-reduction initiatives.