Retirement plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset)

Information concerning the Company’s defined benefit pension plans, in aggregate, is as follows:



As at	Dec 31 2018			Dec 31 2017
Accrued benefit obligations:
Balance, beginning of year	$	65,393		$	60,771
Current service cost	1,981			1,879
Past service cost	1,279			812
Interest cost on accrued benefit obligations	2,247			2,242
Benefit payments	(3,558		)	(5,280		)
Actuarial (gain) loss	(652		)	166
Foreign exchange (gain) loss	(6,072		)	4,803
Balance, end of year	60,618			65,393
Fair values of plan assets:
Balance, beginning of year	46,991			44,230
Interest income on assets	1,420			1,522
Contributions	2,452			1,970
Benefit payments	(3,558		)	(5,280		)
Return (loss) on plan assets	(2,846		)	1,330
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(3,504		)	3,219
Balance, end of year	40,955			46,991
Unfunded status	19,663			18,402
Minimum funding requirement	—			—
Defined benefit obligation, net	$	19,663		$	18,402

Expense recognized in the income statement

The Company’s net defined benefit pension plan expense charged to the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:



For the years ended December 31	2018		2017
Net defined benefit pension plan expense:
Current service cost	$	1,981	$	1,879
Past service cost	1,279		812
Net interest cost	827		720
	$	4,087	$	3,411

Expense recognized in other comprehensive income

The Company’s current year actuarial gains (losses), recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, are as follows:



For the years ended December 31	2018			2017
Actuarial gain (loss)	$	(1,483	)	$	564

Disclosure of fair value of plan assets

The asset allocation for the defined benefit pension plan assets as at December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:



As at	Dec 31 2018		Dec 31 2017
Equity securities	20	%	46	%
Debt securities	57	%	29	%
Cash and other short-term securities	23	%	25	%
Total	100	%	100	%