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Nothing predictable about the Canucks, taxes and hot water

I had mixed feelings as the end of April approached — the Canucks were in the playoffs, and I have to do my taxes. Little did I know, the outcome from both of these events was opposite of what I expected.

I had mixed feelings as the end of April approached — the Canucks were in the playoffs, and I have to do my taxes. Little did I know, the outcome from both of these events was opposite of what I expected.

My long-suffering heart was broken Saturday night as the Canucks went down to defeat to the Calgary Flames. It was a good series, and I'm convinced that if they had pulled off the Game 6 win, we'd be off to Round 2. As has been said so many times by fans like me, 'Oh well, there's always next year.' That was supposed to be the good part.

Then, the bad part. I have to do my tax return.

I'm a terrible procrastinator when it comes to my taxes. I always do it myself, ever since I took a course many, many years ago in college. I'm lucky, I learned how to navigate the tax forms, a solid foundation that has given me the confidence to do it myself ever since. It's great that charities like Deltassist have a program to help low-income families and seniors complete their forms as well, it's the only way to make sure they get the government support they need.

I set off with the forms for my wife, my son and myself. I start by plugging in the basics before getting into all the deductions. So far, not bad - we've all got small returns coming.

Then, I start adding the deductions that I qualify for. Kids under 18? Deduction. Fitness tax credit that increased to $1,000 this past year? Deduction. Kids in the arts? Deduction. Transfer tuition fees, education amounts and allowance for books from my son? Deduction. Ride transit? Deduction.

And then there was the big one — income splitting for families. That's a deduction that really made a difference.

When my kids were born, my wife and I decided that we wanted to have one parent home to raise them. My wife stayed home while I went to work. It was tough most of the time with one income, except when my wife worked part-time. We didn't take a lot of vacations, we don't drive new cars. Except for being able to take my wife's basic personal deduction, it didn't really seem fair that I was taxed as an individual, even though I was providing income for a family.

I find it funny that the top 15 per cent of income earners are now being called rich. In B.C., income for the top 15 per cent starts at $70,000. They represent 46.5 per cent of total income in the province and pay 67.9 per cent of the income tax.

Only 6.3 per cent of B.C. residents make over $100,000 (they also pay 47 per cent of the tax). Maybe you could consider those folks rich, it all depends on the size of their mortgage.

In the end, I'll be getting a return this year, which just means I've had more deducted off my paycheques than I needed to pay. That's OK, I consider it a forced savings plan, and now have a bit of a rainy day fund!

Now that I've said rainy day, my hot water tank is leaking. In one hand, out the other. The joys of being a middle-class family.