If "living in poverty" is defined as some kind of statistical measure (which it usually is) which is defined as something like "percentage of average wage" or s

If "living in poverty" is defined as some kind of statistical measure (which it usually is) which is defined as something like "percentage of average wage" or something like that, than lowering of average wage (due to any circumstances) could cause less people to end up under the bar and thus reduce "poverty rate". The people in question may not get a single cent better income or conditions. I have no idea if that's the case in Canada, but it's an example how this is can be statistic-driven. Usually when one uses a single number to describe complex conditions of people in a large diverse country, that's what you get.