XML 142 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Financial and capital management (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017
Financial Instruments [Abstract] |
Disclosure of financial liabilities | The following table provides the fair value details of financial instruments measured at amortized cost in the statements of financial position.
|  |  |  | DECEMBER 31, 2017 | DECEMBER 31, 2016
| CLASSIFICATION | FAIR VALUE METHODOLOGY | NOTE | CARRYING VALUE |  | FAIR VALUE |  | CARRYING VALUE |  | FAIR VALUE |
CRTC tangible benefits obligation | Trade payables and other liabilities and non-current liabilities | Present value of estimated future cash flows discounted using observable market interest rates | 18, 23 | 111 |  | 110 |  | 166 |  | 169 |
CRTC deferral account obligation | Trade payables and other liabilities and non-current liabilities | Present value of estimated future cash flows discounted using observable market interest rates | 18, 23 | 124 |  | 128 |  | 136 |  | 145 |
Debt securities, finance leases and other debt | Debt due within one year and long-term debt | Quoted market price of debt or present value of future cash flows discounted using observable market interest rates | 19, 20 | 19,321 |  | 21,298 |  | 17,879 |  | 20,093 |
Disclosure of fair value measurement of assets | The following table provides the fair value details of financial instruments measured at fair value in the statements of financial position.
|  |  |  | FAIR VALUE AT DECEMBER 31
| CLASSIFICATION | NOTE | CARRYING VALUE OF ASSET (LIABILITY) AT DECEMBER 31 |  | QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1) |  | OBSERVABLE MARKET DATA (LEVEL 2)(1) |  | NON-OBSERVABLE MARKET INPUTS (LEVEL 3)(2) |
2017 |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS publicly-traded and privately-held investments | Other non-current assets | 16 | 103 |  | 1 |  | — |  | 102 |
Derivative financial instruments | Other current assets, trade payables and other liabilities, other non-current assets and liabilities |  | (48 | ) | — |  | (48 | ) | — |
MLSE financial liability(3) | Trade payables and other liabilities | 18 | (135 | ) | — |  | — |  | (135 | )
Other | Other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 60 |  | — |  | 106 |  | (46 | )
2016 |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS publicly-traded and privately-held investments | Other non-current assets | 16 | 103 |  | 1 |  | — |  | 102 |
Derivative financial instruments | Other current assets, trade payables and other liabilities, other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 166 |  | — |  | 166 |  | — |
MLSE financial liability(3) | Trade payables and other liabilities | 18 | (135 | ) | — |  | — |  | (135 | )
Other | Other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 35 |  | — |  | 88 |  | (53 | )
(1) | Observable market data such as equity prices, interest rates, swap rate curves and foreign currency exchange rates.
(2) | Non-observable market inputs such as discounted cash flows and earnings multiples. A reasonable change in our assumptions would not result in a significant increase (decrease) to our level 3 financial instruments.
(3) | Represents BCE’s obligation to repurchase the Master Trust’s 9% interest in MLSE at a price not less than an agreed minimum price should the Master Trust exercise its put option. The obligation to repurchase is marked to market each reporting period and the gain or loss is recorded in Other (expense) income in the income statements.
Disclosure of fair value measurement of liabilities | The following table provides the fair value details of financial instruments measured at fair value in the statements of financial position.
|  |  |  | FAIR VALUE AT DECEMBER 31
| CLASSIFICATION | NOTE | CARRYING VALUE OF ASSET (LIABILITY) AT DECEMBER 31 |  | QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL ASSETS (LEVEL 1) |  | OBSERVABLE MARKET DATA (LEVEL 2)(1) |  | NON-OBSERVABLE MARKET INPUTS (LEVEL 3)(2) |
2017 |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS publicly-traded and privately-held investments | Other non-current assets | 16 | 103 |  | 1 |  | — |  | 102 |
Derivative financial instruments | Other current assets, trade payables and other liabilities, other non-current assets and liabilities |  | (48 | ) | — |  | (48 | ) | — |
MLSE financial liability(3) | Trade payables and other liabilities | 18 | (135 | ) | — |  | — |  | (135 | )
Other | Other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 60 |  | — |  | 106 |  | (46 | )
2016 |  |  |  |  |  |
AFS publicly-traded and privately-held investments | Other non-current assets | 16 | 103 |  | 1 |  | — |  | 102 |
Derivative financial instruments | Other current assets, trade payables and other liabilities, other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 166 |  | — |  | 166 |  | — |
MLSE financial liability(3) | Trade payables and other liabilities | 18 | (135 | ) | — |  | — |  | (135 | )
Other | Other non-current assets and liabilities |  | 35 |  | — |  | 88 |  | (53 | )
(1) | Observable market data such as equity prices, interest rates, swap rate curves and foreign currency exchange rates.
(2) | Non-observable market inputs such as discounted cash flows and earnings multiples. A reasonable change in our assumptions would not result in a significant increase (decrease) to our level 3 financial instruments.
(3) | Represents BCE’s obligation to repurchase the Master Trust’s 9% interest in MLSE at a price not less than an agreed minimum price should the Master Trust exercise its put option. The obligation to repurchase is marked to market each reporting period and the gain or loss is recorded in Other (expense) income in the income statements.
Disclosure of financial assets | The following table provides the change in allowance for doubtful accounts for trade receivables.
|  | NOTE |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |
Balance, January 1 |  | (60 | ) | (64 | )
Additions |  | (99 | ) | (102 | )
Usage |  | 104 |  | 106 |
Balance, December 31 | 11 |  | (55 | ) | (60 | )
Disclosure of financial assets that are either past due or impaired | The following table provides further details on trade receivables not impaired.
AT DECEMBER 31 | 2017 |  | 2016 |
Trade receivables not past due | 2,257 |  | 2,187 |
Trade receivables past due and not impaired |  |
| Under 60 days | 491 |  | 286 |
| 60 to 120 days | 279 |  | 359 |
| Over 120 days | 56 |  | 75 |
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts | 3,083 |  | 2,907 |
Disclosure of how entity manages liquidity risk | The following table is a maturity analysis for recognized financial liabilities at December 31, 2017 for each of the next five years and thereafter.
AT DECEMBER 31, 2017 | NOTE | 2018 |  | 2019 |  | 2020 |  | 2021 |  | 2022 |  | THERE- AFTER | TOTAL
Long-term debt | 20 | 661 |  | 1,541 |  | 1,424 |  | 2,247 |  | 1,714 |  | 9,558 |  | 17,145 |
Notes payable | 19 | 3,151 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,151 |
Minimum future lease payments under finance leases | 13 | 572 |  | 501 |  | 326 |  | 278 |  | 248 |  | 883 |  | 2,808 |
Loan secured by trade receivables | 19 | 921 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 921 |
Interest payable on long-term debt, notes payable and loan secured by trade receivables |  | 792 |  | 688 |  | 628 |  | 586 |  | 525 |  | 5,197 |  | 8,416 |
MLSE financial liability | 18 | 135 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 135 |
Total |  | 6,232 |  | 2,730 |  | 2,378 |  | 3,111 |  | 2,487 |  | 15,638 |  | 32,576 |
Disclosure of detailed information about hedged items | The following table provides further details on our outstanding foreign currency forward contracts and cross currency basis swaps as at December 31, 2017.
TYPE OF HEDGE | BUY CURRENCY | AMOUNT TO RECEIVE |  | SELL CURRENCY | AMOUNT TO PAY |  | MATURITY | HEDGED ITEM
Cash flow | USD | 2,492 |  | CAD | 3,180 |  | 2018 | Commercial paper
Cash flow | USD | 872 |  | CAD | 1,134 |  | 2018 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | CAD | 97 |  | USD | 75 |  | 2018-2019 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | USD | 576 |  | CAD | 721 |  | 2019 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | USD | 76 |  | CAD | 96 |  | 2020-2021 | Anticipated transactions
Economic | USD | 36 |  | CAD | 46 |  | 2018 | Anticipated transactions
Disclosure of key internal ratios and metrics | The following table provides a summary of our key ratios.
AT DECEMBER 31 | 2017 | 2016
Net debt leverage ratio | 2.70 | 2.57
Adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio | 9.12 | 9.31
(1) | Our net debt leverage ratio represents net debt divided by adjusted EBITDA. We define net debt as debt due within one year plus long-term debt and 50% of preferred shares less cash and cash equivalents as shown in our statements of financial position. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating revenues less operating costs as shown in our income statements.
(2) | Our adjusted EBITDA to net interest expense ratio represents adjusted EBITDA divided by net interest expense. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating revenues less operating costs as shown in our income statements. Net interest expense is net interest expense as shown in our statements of cash flows and 50% of declared preferred share dividends as shown in our income statements.
Disclosure of detailed information about hedging instruments [text block] | The following table provides further details on our outstanding foreign currency forward contracts and cross currency basis swaps as at December 31, 2017.
TYPE OF HEDGE | BUY CURRENCY | AMOUNT TO RECEIVE |  | SELL CURRENCY | AMOUNT TO PAY |  | MATURITY | HEDGED ITEM
Cash flow | USD | 2,492 |  | CAD | 3,180 |  | 2018 | Commercial paper
Cash flow | USD | 872 |  | CAD | 1,134 |  | 2018 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | CAD | 97 |  | USD | 75 |  | 2018-2019 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | USD | 576 |  | CAD | 721 |  | 2019 | Anticipated transactions
Cash flow | USD | 76 |  | CAD | 96 |  | 2020-2021 | Anticipated transactions
Economic | USD | 36 |  | CAD | 46 |  | 2018 | Anticipated transactions

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Key Internal Ratios And Metrics [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfKeyInternalRatiosAndMetricsTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Financial Instruments [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_FinancialInstrumentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of detailed information about hedged items. [Refer: Hedged items [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Note Effective 2018-01-01 -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 24B -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_24B&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutHedgedItemsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of detailed information about hedging instruments. [Refer: Hedging instruments [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Note Effective 2018-01-01 -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 24A -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_24A&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutHedgingInstrumentsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of the fair value measurement of assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 13 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 93 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=13&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_93&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfAssetsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of the fair value measurement of liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 13 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 93 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=13&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_93&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFairValueMeasurementOfLiabilitiesExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of financial assets. [Refer: Financial assets] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_7&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of financial assets that are either past due or impaired. [Refer: Financial assets] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Note Expiry date 2018-01-01 -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-02&anchor=para_37&doctype=Standard&book=B -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsThatAreEitherPastDueOrImpairedExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of financial liabilities. [Refer: Financial liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_7&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFinancialLiabilitiesExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of a maturity analysis for non-derivative financial liabilities (including issued financial guarantee contracts) that shows the remaining contractual maturities. [Refer: Derivative financial liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 7 -IssueDate 2017-01-01 -Paragraph 39 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/XBRL?type=IFRS&num=7&date=2017-03-01&anchor=para_39_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2017-03-09 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_MaturityAnalysisForNonderivativeFinancialLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration