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Financial instruments - Narrative (Details) - CAD ($)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Gain (loss) $ 32,269,000 $ (81,081,000)  
Cash and cash equivalents 1,062,431,000 711,528,000 $ 591,620,000
Short-term investments 0 $ 391,025,000  
Pledged cash as security $ 195,729,000    
Bottom of range [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Quoted market yields 1.70% 1.90%  
Top of range [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Quoted market yields 1.80% 2.20%  
Interest rate swap contracts [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Gain (loss) $ 2,068,000 $ 2,032,000  
Credit risk [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Cash and cash equivalents 1,062,431,000 711,528,000  
Short-term investments $ 0 $ 391,025,000  
Interest rate risk [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Proportion of outstanding debt that carries fixed rate 85.00% 67.00%  
Interest rate risk [member] | Interest rate swap contracts [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Percentage increase in interest rate 1.00%    
Gain (loss) $ 1,524,000    
Fair value of Cameco's interest rate swap assets 2,313,000 $ 856,000  
Interest rate risk [member] | Interest rate swap contracts [member] | Series E senior unsecured debenture [Member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Notional amount $ 150,000,000    
Interest rate risk [member] | Interest rate swap contracts [member] | Series E senior unsecured debenture [Member] | Floating interest rate [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Interest rate basis the three-month Canada Dealer Offered Rate    
Margin rate 1.20%    
Interest rate risk [member] | Interest rate swap contracts [member] | Series E senior unsecured debenture [Member] | Fixed interest rate [member]      
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [line items]      
Interest rate 3.75%