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Capital Management - Schedule of Total Capital (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | --- | ---
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity | $ 24,570 | $ 22,971 |
Capital | $ 28,308 | 27,107 |
Sun Life Assurance |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Life Insurance Capital Adequacy Test Ratio, Actual | 131.00% |  |
Subordinated Debt |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Borrowings | $ 3,039 | 3,437 |
Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Borrowings | 699 | 699 |
Participating policyholders |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity | 864 | 650 | $ 412
Preferred shares | Shares |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity | 2,257 | 2,257 | 2,257
Common shares |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity | 21,449 | 20,064 |
Common shares | Shares |  |  |
Entity Location [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity | $ 8,419 | $ 8,582 | $ 8,614

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