XML 134 R104.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill Allocated to CGUs (Details) - CAD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill impairment | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 5,412,000,000 | 5,183,000,000 | $ 5,317,000,000
SLF Canada, Individual | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 1,100,000,000 | 1,066,000,000 |
SLF Canada, Group retirement services | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 453,000,000 | 453,000,000 |
SLF Canada, Group benefits | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 1,054,000,000 | 1,054,000,000 |
SLF US, Employee benefits group | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 1,138,000,000 | 1,043,000,000 |
SLF Asia | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 705,000,000 | 655,000,000 |
SLF Asset Management, MFS | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 515,000,000 | 481,000,000 |
SLF Asset Management, SLIM | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | 260,000,000 | 248,000,000 |
Corporate, UK | Goodwill |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 187,000,000 | $ 183,000,000 |
Bottom of range |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Price-to-earnings multiples used for valuation | 10.5 |  |
Price-to-assets-under-management multiples used for valuation | 0.60% |  |
CGU discount rate | 9.00% |  |
Top of range |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Price-to-earnings multiples used for valuation | 11.5 |  |
Price-to-assets-under-management multiples used for valuation | 2.00% |  |
CGU discount rate | 12.50% |  |
Income approach | Bottom of range |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Future sales projection for valuation, in years | 10 years |  |
Income approach | Top of range |  |  |
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] |  |  |
Future sales projection for valuation, in years | 15 years |  |

X
- Definition The discount rate applied to cash flow projections for a cash-generating unit (group of units). [Refer: Cash-generating units [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 36 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 134 -Subparagraph d -Clause v -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=36&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_134_d_v&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 36 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 134 -Subparagraph e -Clause v -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=36&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_134_e_v&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DescriptionOfDiscountRatesAppliedToCashFlowProjections
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of impairment loss recognised in profit or loss for goodwill. [Refer: Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss; Goodwill] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 3 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph B67 -Subparagraph d -Clause v -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=3&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_B67_d_v&doctype=Appendix&seq=2 -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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
Name: | ifrs-full_IntangibleAssetsAndGoodwill
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Price-To-Assets-Under-Management, Significant Unobservable Inputs, CGUs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_PriceToAssetsUnderManagementSignificantUnobservableInputsCGUs
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Price-To-Earnings Multiple, Significant Unobservable Inputs, CGUs + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_PriceToEarningsMultipleSignificantUnobservableInputsCGUs
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Projected Future Sales, Value Of New Business, Period + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | slf_ProjectedFutureSalesValueOfNewBusinessPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | slf_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillAxis=ifrs-full_GoodwillMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFCanadaIndividualMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFCanadaGroupRetirementServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFCanadaGroupBenefitsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFUSEmployeeBenefitsGroupMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SunLifeFinancialAsiaMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFAssetManagementMFSMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_SLFAssetManagementSLIMMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_IndividualAssetsOrCashgeneratingUnitsWithSignificantAmountOfGoodwillOrIntangibleAssetsWithIndefiniteUsefulLivesAxis=slf_CorporateUKMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_BottomOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_TopOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ValuationTechniquesUsedInFairValueMeasurementAxis=ifrs-full_IncomeApproachMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |