v3.19.2

employee future benefits - Defined contribution pension plans expense (Details) - CAD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2019 | Jun. 30, 2018
employee future benefits |  |  |  |
Union pension plan and public service pension plan contributions | $ 5 | $ 5 | $ 11 | $ 11
Other defined contribution pension plans | 15 | 15 | 32 | 33
Total | $ 20 | $ 20 | $ 43 | $ 44

X
- Definition The amount of post-employment benefit expense relating to defined contribution plans. Defined contribution plans are post-employment benefit plans under which an entity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity (a fund) and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employee benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2018-01-01 -Paragraph 53 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IAS&num=19&date=2018-03-01&anchor=para_53&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2018-03-16 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedContributionPlans
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition n/a + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tu_EmployeeFutureBenefitsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | tu_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of traditional post-employment benefit expense relating to defined contribution plans that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tu_PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedContributionPlansOther
Namespace Prefix: | tu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of post-employment benefit expense relating to defined contribution plans relating to union pension plan and public service pension plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | tu_PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedContributionPlansUnionPensionAndPublicServicePlans
Namespace Prefix: | tu_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration