Accounting Changes Accounting Changes (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Implemented in 2017

Compensation – Stock Compensation

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting, under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 718. The amendments clarify the guidance relating to treatment of excess tax benefits and deficiencies, acceptable forfeiture rate policies, and treatment of cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes and the requirement to treat such cash flows as a financing activity. As a result of this ASU, excess tax benefits are no longer recorded in additional paid-

in capital and instead are applied against taxes payable or recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income. This ASU was effective for CP beginning on January 1, 2017. The Company has determined that there were no significant changes to disclosure, financial statement presentation, and no material changes to accounting as a result of adoption.

Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory under FASB ASC Topic 330. The amendments require that reporting entities measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments apply to inventory that is measured using the first-in, first-out or average cost basis. This ASU was effective for CP beginning on January 1, 2017 and was applied prospectively. The Company determined there were no changes to disclosure, financial statement presentation, or valuation of inventory as a result of adoption.

Future changes

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers under FASB ASC Topic 606. The FASB has also issued several updates to ASU 2014-09. The guidance in Topic 606, as amended, will be effective for CP for interim and annual periods commencing January 1, 2018. CP will adopt the new standard by using the modified retrospective approach.

CP has analyzed contracts and public tariffs for a significant proportion of the Company’s annual rail freight revenue, which represents greater than 95% of CP’s annual revenues, and has identified the distinct services provided to customers that represent performance obligations under contracts and public tariffs. CP has also assessed key contracts with customers that generate non-freight revenues. CP has concluded that recognizing rail freight revenues over time as performance obligations related to rail freight services are satisfied continues to be appropriate. Certain other services provided to customers are satisfied at a point in time and will continue to be recognized in this manner.

CP has substantially completed its assessment of its revenues earned from contracts with customers and does not expect any significant adjustment to be required upon adoption of the standard. Additional disclosures will be provided in CP's first quarter 2018 financial statements.

Compensation – Retirement Benefits

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Post-retirement Benefit Cost under FASB ASC Topic 715. The amendments clarify presentation requirements for net periodic pension cost and net periodic post-retirement benefit cost and require that an employer report the current service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net periodic benefit cost are required to be presented in the Consolidated Statement of Income separately from the current service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The amendments also restrict capitalization to the current service cost component when applicable. The amendments are effective for CP beginning on January 1, 2018. The amendments related to presentation are required to be applied retrospectively and the restrictions on capitalization of the current service cost component are applicable prospectively on the date of adoption. The impacts of the reclassification are detailed as follows:



	Year ended December 31
(in millions of Canadian dollars)	2017		2016		2015
Decrease in operating income	$	274	$	167	$	70

There will be no change to Net income or earnings per share as a result of adoption of this new standard. The new guidance restricting capitalization of pensions to the current service cost component of net periodic benefit cost will have no impact to operating income or amounts capitalized because the Company currently only capitalizes an appropriate portion of current service cost for self-constructed properties. CP is currently assessing the disclosure requirements of this ASU.

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ASU 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, under FASB ASC Topic 815. This is intended to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements. These amendments also make targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP. The amendments require the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument to be recorded in other comprehensive income for effective cash flow hedges. Consequently, any ineffective portion of the change in fair value will, therefore, no longer be recorded to the Consolidated Statement of Income as it arises. The amendments are effective for CP beginning on January 1, 2019, although early adoption is permitted.

Entities are required to apply the amendments in this update to hedging relationships existing on the date of adoption, reflected as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Other amendments to presentation and disclosure are applied prospectively. The Company will early adopt this ASU effective January 1, 2018 and no significant cumulative-effect adjustment will be required.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases under FASB ASC Topic 842. This new standard requires recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as finance and operating leases with a maximum term exceeding 12 months. For CP this new standard will be effective for interim and annual periods commencing January 1, 2019. Entities are required to use a modified retrospective approach to adopt this new standard. The Company has a detailed plan to implement the new standard and is assessing contractual arrangements, through a cross-functional team, that may qualify as leases under the new standard. CP is also working with a vendor to implement a lease management system which will assist in delivering the required accounting changes. CP's cross-functional team and the vendor finalized system requirements and developed work flows and testing scenarios that will permit system implementation and parallel testing in 2018 for CP's lease system solution. The impact of the new standard will be a material increase to right of use assets and lease liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, primarily, as a result of operating leases currently not recognized on the balance sheet. The Company does not anticipate a material impact to Net income and is currently evaluating the impact adoption of this new standard will have on disclosure.

Intangibles – Goodwill and Other

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment under FASB ASC Topic 350. This is intended to simplify how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The amendments are effective for CP beginning on January 1, 2020. Entities are required to apply the amendments in this update prospectively from the date of adoption. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will impact CP's financial statements as there is a sufficient excess between the fair value and carrying value of CP's goodwill. Furthermore CP expects to continue to apply the Step 0 qualitative assessment when testing for goodwill impairment.