Pension and Other Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2021

Retirement Benefits [Abstract]

Pensions and Other Benefits

Pension and other benefits

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company made contributions to its defined benefit pension plans of $4 million and $15 million, respectively (three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 - $9 million and $24 million, respectively).

Net periodic benefit costs for defined benefit pension plans and other benefits included the following components:        

	For the three months ended September 30
	Pensions				Other benefits
(in millions of Canadian dollars)	2021		2020		2021		2020
Current service cost (benefits earned by employees)	$	42	$	35	$	4	$	3
Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost:
Interest cost on benefit obligation	88		102		4		4
Expected return on fund assets	(240)		(236)		—		—
Recognized net actuarial loss	52		44		1		1
Amortization of prior service costs (recoveries)	—		(1)		—		—
Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	(100)		(91)		5		5
Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	$	(58)	$	(56)	$	9	$	8

	For the nine months ended September 30
	Pensions				Other benefits
(in millions of Canadian dollars)	2021		2020		2021		2020
Current service cost (benefits earned by employees)	$	128	$	105	$	10	$	9
Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost:
Interest cost on benefit obligation	264		305		12		13
Expected return on fund assets	(720)		(709)		—		—
Recognized net actuarial loss	155		132		3		3
Amortization of prior service costs (recoveries)	—		(1)		—		—
Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	(301)		(273)		15		16
Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost	$	(173)	$	(168)	$	25	$	25