INCOME TAXES (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) ongoing_tax_audit	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
Net loss before tax	$ (83,118,000)	$ (64,544,000)	$ (43,698,000)
Statutory combined US federal and state tax rate (2012 - statutory combined Canadian federal and provincial tax rate)	34.00%	34.00%	39.83%
Statutory federal and provincial taxes	$ (28,260,000)	$ (21,945,000)	$ (17,405,000)
Effect of change in valuation allowance	28,446,000	22,350,000	12,273,000
Non-deductible share-based compensation	1,247,000	923,000	930,000
Non-deductible warrant expenses for tax purposes	0	0	1,799,000
Tax credits	(2,906,000)	(2,430,000)	(227,000)
Share issue costs - temporary difference	(78,000)	(184,000)	(184,000)
Differential in income tax rates of foreign subsidiary	261,000	31,000	3,047,000
Uncertain Tax Positions	3,921,000	1,961,000	47,000
Return to provision and other true-ups	(2,619,000)	(899,000)	0
Other differences	(12,000)	193,000	(280,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0
Deferred tax asset
Tangible and intangible depreciable assets	990,000	199,000
Stock compensation	6,635,000	4,429,000
Provisions	853,000	725,000
Financing fees	0	78,000
Net operating loss carry forwards	66,489,000	42,864,000
Capital loss carryforward	51,000	102,000
Scientific research and experimental development expenditures	5,531,000	5,552,000
Research and development tax credits	4,266,000	2,411,000
Total gross deferred tax assets	84,815,000	56,360,000
Less valuation allowance	(84,815,000)	(56,360,000)
Net deferred tax assets	0	0
Additional disclosures
Amount of increase in valuation allowance	(28,500,000)
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amounts of unrecognized tax positions
Accrual for interest or penalties on tax matters	$ 0
Number of ongoing tax audits | ongoing_tax_audit	0
Domestic Tax Authority
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ 0	0	0
Canadian Federal
Additional disclosures
Scientific research and experimental development expenses deductible for income tax purposes	19,900,000	19,900,000	20,100,000
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	79,159,000
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amounts of unrecognized tax positions
Unrecognized tax positions, beginning of year	509,000	42,000	35,000
Gross increase — current period tax positions	598,000	445,000	35,000
Gross decrease — prior period tax positions	(9,000)	(4,000)	(28,000)
Gross increase — prior period tax positions	0	26,000	0
Expiration of statute of limitations	(3,000)	0	0
Unrecognized tax positions, end of year	1,095,000	509,000	42,000
Canadian Federal | 2030
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	5,907,000
Canadian Federal | 2031
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	7,059,000
Canadian Federal | 2032
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	13,308,000
Canadian Federal | 2033
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	18,623,000
Canadian Federal | 2034
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	32,401,000
Canadian Federal | 2035
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	1,084,000
Canadian Federal | 2036
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	777,000
Canadian Provincial
Additional disclosures
Scientific research and experimental development expenses deductible for income tax purposes	21,600,000	21,600,000	22,700,000
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	78,539,000
Reconciliation of the beginning and ending gross amounts of unrecognized tax positions
Unrecognized tax positions, beginning of year	2,274,000	18,000	6,000
Gross increase — current period tax positions	195,000	259,000	12,000
Gross decrease — prior period tax positions	0	(3,000)	0
Gross increase — prior period tax positions	4,866,000	2,000,000	0
Expiration of statute of limitations	(2,000)	0	0
Unrecognized tax positions, end of year	7,333,000	$ 2,274,000	$ 18,000
Canadian Provincial | 2030
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	5,985,000
Canadian Provincial | 2031
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	7,066,000
Canadian Provincial | 2032
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	12,433,000
Canadian Provincial | 2033
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	19,385,000
Canadian Provincial | 2034
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	31,809,000
Canadian Provincial | 2035
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	1,084,000
Canadian Provincial | 2036
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	777,000
US Federal
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	133,374,000
US Federal | 2030
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US Federal | 2031
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US Federal | 2032
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US Federal | 2033
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	3,261,000
US Federal | 2034
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	7,260,000
US Federal | 2035
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	53,345,000
US Federal | 2036
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	69,508,000
US Federal | Research Tax Credit Carryforward
Additional disclosures
Tax credit carryforward	4,400,000
US State
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	77,326,000
US State | 2030
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US State | 2031
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US State | 2032
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US State | 2033
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	2,286,000
US State | 2034
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	22,162,000
US State | 2035
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	52,878,000
US State | 2036
Additional disclosures
Net operating loss carry forwards (NOLs)	0
US State | Research Tax Credit Carryforward
Additional disclosures
Tax credit carryforward	$ 2,000,000