The number of Canadians receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits fell for the fifth consecutive month in June.

Statistics Canada reports that 480,870 received regular EI payments in June, a 0.5% from May. Regular benefit payments totalled $689.3 million in the month while 232,620 people made initial and renewal claims.

The decline in June was due to decreases in Ontario (-1.6%), Quebec (-1.2%) and British Columbia (-0.3%). The number of regular beneficiaries in B.C. has fallen for 10 consecutive months, while in Quebec they have fallen to their lowest level in five and a half years, StatsCan notes.