Plant and equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018
Cost	$ 4,393	$ 3,792
Accumulated amortization	(3,573)	(3,467)
Net	820	325
Furniture and equipment [Member] | British Columbia, Canada [Member]
Cost	63	63
Accumulated amortization	(26)	(17)
Net	37	46
Leasehold improvements [Member] | British Columbia, Canada [Member]
Cost	53	53
Accumulated amortization	(16)	(10)
Net	37	43
Machinery and equipment[Member] | Alaska, USA [Member]
Cost	3,779	3,178
Accumulated amortization	(3,038)	(2,964)
Net	741	214
Vehicles [Member] | Alaska, USA [Member]
Cost	348	348
Accumulated amortization	(347)	(333)
Net	1	15
Computer hardware and software [Member] | British Columbia, Canada [Member]
Cost	115	115
Accumulated amortization	(111)	(109)
Net	4	6
Computer hardware and software [Member] | Alaska, USA [Member]
Cost	35	35
Accumulated amortization	$ (35)	(34)
Net		$ 1