I know lots of people working in Chinatown and earn less than
min pay and they have to raise their family here(or in China).
BTW, despite the min pay is $8, the median pay scale of BC is
$23 per hour, ranted #3 in Canada. Income tax can be deferred,
especially for the rich.
For the low income family, property tax can be deferred too. That is for basic social security net, no one ask you to stay at poverty
line. Want to enjoy quality life, need to work harder to achieve it.