XML 154 R124.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Share Capital - Common Shares Issued and Outstanding (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 CAD ($) shares $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2017 CAD ($) shares | Aug. 14, 2018 shares | Aug. 14, 2017 shares
Reconciliation of number of shares outstanding [abstract] |  |  |  |
Stock options exercised (in shares) | 399,000 | 437,000 |  |
Common shares issued as consideration for business acquisition (in shares) | 100,000 | 0 |  |
Common shares issued as consideration for business acquisition | $ | $ 4 | $ 0 |  |
Payments to acquire or redeem entity's shares | $ | $ 641 | $ 175 |  |
Common shares |  |  |  |
Reconciliation of number of shares outstanding [abstract] |  |  |  |
Number of shares outstanding, beginning of year (in shares) | 610,500,000 | 613,600,000 |  |
Stock options exercised (in shares) | 400,000 | 400,000 |  |
Common shares purchased for cancellation (in shares) | 12,500,000.0 | (3,500,000) |  |
Number of shares outstanding, end of year (in shares) | 598,500,000 | 610,500,000 |  |
Balance, beginning of year | $ | $ 8,582 | $ 8,614 |  |
Stock options exercised | $ | 16 | 18 |  |
Common shares purchased for cancellation | $ | (183) | (50) |  |
Balance, end of year | $ | $ 8,419 | $ 8,582 |  |
Number of shares authorized for purchase and cancellation (in shares) |  |  | 14,000,000 | 11,500,000.0
Purchase and cancellation of treasury shares (cad per share) | $ / shares | $ 50.83 |  |  |
Payments to acquire or redeem entity's shares | $ | $ 635 |  |  |
2018 NCIB | Common shares |  |  |  |
Reconciliation of number of shares outstanding [abstract] |  |  |  |
Common shares purchased for cancellation (in shares) | 100,000.0 |  |  |
Purchase and cancellation of treasury shares (cad per share) | $ / shares | $ 44.91 |  |  |
Payments to acquire or redeem entity's shares | $ | $ 0 |  |  |
Third-Party Share Repurchase Program | Common shares |  |  |  |
Reconciliation of number of shares outstanding [abstract] |  |  |  |
Common shares purchased for cancellation (in shares) |  | 1,100,000.0 |  |

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) in equity resulting from the exercise of options. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 106 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_106_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IncreaseDecreaseThroughExerciseOfOptions
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The nominal value of capital issued. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 78 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_78_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IssuedCapital
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of share options exercised in a share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 2 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph b -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=2&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_45_b_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of shares that have been authorised and issued, reduced by treasury shares held. [Refer: Treasury shares] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 79 -Subparagraph a -Clause iv -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_79_a_iv&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NumberOfSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash outflow to acquire or redeem entity's shares. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_17_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PaymentsToAcquireOrRedeemEntitysShares
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The decrease in equity resulting from the purchase of treasury shares. [Refer: Treasury shares] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 106 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=1&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_106_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PurchaseOfTreasuryShares
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ReconciliationOfNumberOfSharesOutstandingAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Increase (Decrease) In Number Of Shares Outstanding Through Business Combination + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughBusinessCombination
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Increase (Decrease) In Number Of Shares Outstanding Through Business Combination, Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughBusinessCombinationValue
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Increase (Decrease) In Number Of Shares Outstanding Through Purchase Of Treasury Shares + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_IncreaseDecreaseInNumberOfSharesOutstandingThroughPurchaseOfTreasuryShares
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Shares Authorised For Repurchase And Cancellation Of Treasury Shares + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_NumberOfSharesAuthorisedForRepurchaseAndCancellationOfTreasuryShares
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Purchase And Cancellation Of Treasury Shares, Price Per Share + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_PurchaseAndCancellationOfTreasurySharesPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis=ifrs-full_OrdinarySharesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | slf_ShareRepurchaseProgram1Axis=slf_A2018NCIBMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | slf_ShareRepurchaseProgram1Axis=slf_ThirdPartyShareRepurchaseProgramMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |