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Capital Management - Participating Account Seed Capital (Details) $ in Millions, $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 CAD ($) | Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 CAD ($)
Shareholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | $ 110 |  |
Retained earnings |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) through transfer from participating policyholders' equity | 89 |  | $ 89
Participating policyholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | (110) |  |
SLF Canada | Shareholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | 75 |  |
SLF Canada | Retained earnings |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) through transfer from participating policyholders' equity | 50 |  |
SLF Canada | Participating policyholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | (75) |  |
SLF U.S. | Shareholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | 35 | $ 28 |
SLF U.S. | Retained earnings |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) through transfer from participating policyholders' equity | 39 | 30 |
SLF U.S. | Participating policyholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in net income (loss) through transfers of interest on seed capital | $ (35) | $ (28) |

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