Accounting Changes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

Accounting Changes

Accounting changes

Implemented in 2020

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses

On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), and all related amendments under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. Using a modified retrospective approach, the Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to its opening retained earnings balance in the period of adoption. Accordingly, comparative financial information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

The impact of the adoption of ASC 326 as at January 1, 2020 was an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $1 million, with the offsets to "Deferred income taxes" and "Retained earnings" on the Company's Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 8 for further discussion of the current period credit loss.

Future Changes

Simplification of Financial Disclosures about Guarantors

In March 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued amendments to the financial disclosure requirements for guarantors and issuers of guaranteed securities, to improve the quality of disclosure and reduce compliance burdens. Among other changes, the amendments replace the current requirement for condensed consolidating financial information (“CCFI”), as specified in Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X, with summarized financial information and expanded qualitative non-financial disclosures about the guarantees, issuers, and guarantors. The amendments will be effective on January 4, 2021, with the option to comply in advance. The Company is currently assessing the impact of these amendments for its future CCFI disclosures.