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Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill Acquired by Segment (Details) - Goodwill - CAD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | $ 5,183 | $ 5,317
Acquisitions | 41 | 16
Foreign exchange rate movements | 188 | (150)
Balance, Ending | 5,412 | 5,183
SLF Canada |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | 2,573 | 2,573
Acquisitions | 34 | 0
Foreign exchange rate movements | 0 | 0
Balance, Ending | 2,607 | 2,573
SLF U.S. |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | 1,043 | 1,112
Acquisitions | 7 | 0
Foreign exchange rate movements | 88 | (69)
Balance, Ending | 1,138 | 1,043
SLF Asia |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | 655 | 686
Acquisitions | 0 | 16
Foreign exchange rate movements | 50 | (47)
Balance, Ending | 705 | 655
SLF Asset Management |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | 729 | 767
Acquisitions | 0 | 0
Foreign exchange rate movements | 46 | (38)
Balance, Ending | 775 | 729
Corporate |  |
Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [abstract] |  |
Balance, Beginning | 183 | 179
Acquisitions | 0 | 0
Foreign exchange rate movements | 4 | 4
Balance, Ending | $ 187 | $ 183

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- Definition The increase in intangible assets and goodwill resulting from acquisitions through business combinations. [Refer: Business combinations [member]; Intangible assets and goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause i -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=38&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_118_e_i&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in intangible assets and goodwill resulting from the net exchange differences arising when the financial statements are translated from the functional currency into a different presentation currency, including the translation of a foreign operation into the presentation currency of the reporting entity. [Refer: Intangible assets and goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 38 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 118 -Subparagraph e -Clause vii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=38&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_118_e_vii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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- Definition The amount of intangible assets and goodwill held by the entity. [Refer: Goodwill; Intangible assets other than goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 55 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
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