$8/hour means $16,640 per year before tax and CPP deductions. Could you live on that?

Check out this excellent report on Myths and Facts about BC's minimum wage. It's from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

 http://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/BC%20Office/2011/02/CCPA_BTN_minimum_wage_facts_2011_web.pdf