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Senior Debentures and Innovative Capital Instruments - Senior Debentures (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Principal amount | $ 700 |
SLF Inc. Series D Senior Debentures Issued June 30, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Interest rate | 5.70% |
Borrowings outstanding | $ 300 | $ 300
SLF Inc. Series E Senior Debentures Issued August 23, 2011 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Interest rate | 4.57% |
Borrowings outstanding | $ 299 | 299
Sun Life Assurance Series B Senior Debentures Issued June 25, 2002 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Interest rate | 7.09% |
Borrowings outstanding | $ 200 | 200
Sun Life Assurance Series C Senior Debentures Issued November 20, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Interest rate | 6.06% |
Borrowings outstanding | $ 500 | 500
Senior Debentures |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Borrowings outstanding | 1,299 | 1,299
Fair value of borrowings outstanding | 1,390 | 1,439
Interest expense on debt instruments issued | $ 76 | $ 76
Government of Canada Bond Yield | SLF Inc. Series D Senior Debentures Issued June 30, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 0.575% |
Government of Canada Bond Yield | SLF Inc. Series E Senior Debentures Issued August 23, 2011 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 0.53% |
Government of Canada Bond Yield | Sun Life Assurance Series B Senior Debentures Issued June 25, 2002 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 0.32% |
Five-year Government of Canada Bond Yield | Sun Life Assurance Series C Senior Debentures Issued November 20, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 3.60% |
Borrowings adjusted to interest rate basis, reset term | 5 years |
Borrowings, Redemption Period One | Government of Canada Bond Yield | SLF Inc. Series D Senior Debentures Issued June 30, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 0.65% |
Borrowings, Redemption Period Two | Government of Canada Bond Yield | SLF Inc. Series D Senior Debentures Issued June 30, 2009 |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] |  |
Adjustment to interest rate basis | 1.30% |

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