Pensions and Other Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2018

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and Other Benefits

In the three months ended September 30, 2018, the Company made contributions of $13 million (three months ended September 30, 2017 - $11 million) to its defined benefit pension plans. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company made net contributions of $25 million (nine months ended September 30, 2017 - $35 million), to its defined benefit pension plans, which is net of a $10 million refund of plan surplus (nine months ended September 30, 2017 - $nil). Net periodic benefit costs for defined benefit pension plans and other benefits recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 included the following components:

	For the three months ended September 30
	Pensions						Other benefits
(in millions of Canadian dollars)	2018			2017			2018		2017
Current service cost (benefits earned by employees)	$	30		$	26		$	3	$	3
Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost:
Interest cost on benefit obligation	110			112			5		5
Expected return on fund assets	(239		)	(223		)	—		—
Recognized net actuarial loss	29			38			—		1
Amortization of prior service costs	(1		)	(1		)	—		—
Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	(101		)	(74		)	5		6
Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	$	(71	)	$	(48	)	$	8	$	9

	For the nine months ended September 30
	Pensions						Other benefits
(in millions of Canadian dollars)	2018			2017			2018		2017
Current service cost (benefits earned by employees)	$	90		$	77		$	9	$	9
Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost:
Interest cost on benefit obligation	329			338			14		15
Expected return on fund assets	(716		)	(669		)	—		—
Recognized net actuarial loss	86			114			2		2
Amortization of prior service costs	(2		)	(3		)	—		—
Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	(303		)	(220		)	16		17
Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	$	(213	)	$	(143	)	$	25	$	26