XML 145 R68.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Post-employee benefit plans (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020
Employee Benefits [Abstract] |
Components of post-employment benefit plans service cost | COMPONENTS OF POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLANS SERVICE COST
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | 2019
DB pension | (219) |  | (193) |
DC pension | (113) |  | (109) |
OPEBs | (2) |  | (3) |
Less: |  |
| Capitalized benefit plans cost | 65 |  | 59 |
Total post-employment benefit plans service cost | (269) |  | (246) |
Components of post-employment benefit plans financing cost | COMPONENTS OF POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLANS FINANCING COST
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | 2019
DB pension | (10) |  | (19) |
OPEBs | (36) |  | (44) |
Total interest on post-employment benefit obligations | (46) |  | (63) |
Defined benefit plans recognized in comprehensive income | The statements of comprehensive income include the following amounts before income taxes.
|  | 2020 | 2019
Cumulative losses recognized directly in equity, January 1 | (2,701) |  | (2,892) |
| Actuarial gains in other comprehensive income from continuing operations(1) | 732 |  | 191 |
| Increase in the effect of the asset limit in other comprehensive income from continuing operations (2) | (45) |  | — |
Cumulative losses recognized directly in equity, December 31 | (2,014) |  | (2,701) |
(1)The cumulative actuarial losses recognized in the statements of comprehensive income are $2,215 million in 2020. (2)The cumulative decrease in the effect of the asset limit recognized in the statements of comprehensive income is $201 million in 2020.
Components of post-employment benefit (obligations) assets | The following table shows the change in post-employment benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets.
|  |  |  | DB PENSION PLANS | OPEB PLANS | TOTAL
|  |  |  | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019
Post-employment benefit obligations, January 1 | (25,650) |  | (23,404) |  | (1,529) |  | (1,469) |  | (27,179) |  | (24,873) |
| Current service cost | (219) |  | (193) |  | (2) |  | (3) |  | (221) |  | (196) |
| Interest on obligations | (782) |  | (872) |  | (46) |  | (55) |  | (828) |  | (927) |
| Actuarial losses(1) | (1,830) |  | (2,498) |  | (90) |  | (80) |  | (1,920) |  | (2,578) |
| Benefit payments | 1,342 |  | 1,326 |  | 67 |  | 77 |  | 1,409 |  | 1,403 |
| Employee contributions | (10) |  | (10) |  | — |  | — |  | (10) |  | (10) |
| Other | — |  | 1 |  | — |  | 1 |  | — |  | 2 |
Post-employment benefit obligations, December 31 | (27,149) |  | (25,650) |  | (1,600) |  | (1,529) |  | (28,749) |  | (27,179) |
Fair value of plan assets, January 1 | 25,530 |  | 23,071 |  | 320 |  | 287 |  | 25,850 |  | 23,358 |
| Expected return on plan assets(2) | 772 |  | 853 |  | 10 |  | 11 |  | 782 |  | 864 |
| Actuarial gains(1) | 2,632 |  | 2,742 |  | 20 |  | 27 |  | 2,652 |  | 2,769 |
| Benefit payments | (1,342) |  | (1,326) |  | (67) |  | (77) |  | (1,409) |  | (1,403) |
| Employer contributions | 183 |  | 180 |  | 61 |  | 72 |  | 244 |  | 252 |
| Employee contributions | 10 |  | 10 |  | — |  | — |  | 10 |  | 10 |
Fair value of plan assets, December 31 | 27,785 |  | 25,530 |  | 344 |  | 320 |  | 28,129 |  | 25,850 |
Plan asset (deficit) |  |  | 636 |  | (120) |  | (1,256) |  | (1,209) |  | (620) |  | (1,329) |
Effect of asset limit |  |  | (65) |  | (20) |  | — |  | — |  | (65) |  | (20) |
Post-employment benefit asset (liability), December 31 | 571 |  | (140) |  | (1,256) |  | (1,209) |  | (685) |  | (1,349) |
Post-employment benefit assets | 1,277 |  | 558 |  | — |  | — |  | 1,277 |  | 558 |
Post-employment benefit obligations | (706) |  | (698) |  | (1,256) |  | (1,209) |  | (1,962) |  | (1,907) |
(1)Actuarial gains (losses) include experience gains of $2,613 million in 2020 and $2,525 million in 2019. (2)The actual return on plan assets was $3,434 million or 13.7% in 2020 and $3,633 million or 16.0% in 2019.
Funded status of post-employment benefit plans cost | The following table shows the funded status of our post-employment benefit obligations.
|  | FUNDED | PARTIALLY FUNDED(1) | UNFUNDED(2) | TOTAL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 |  | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019
Present value of post-employment benefit obligations | (26,421) |  | (24,961) |  | (2,011) |  | (1,918) |  | (317) |  | (300) |  | (28,749) |  | (27,179) |
Fair value of plan assets | 27,727 |  | 25,474 |  | 402 |  | 376 |  | — |  | — |  | 28,129 |  | 25,850 |
Plan surplus (deficit) | 1,306 |  | 513 |  | (1,609) |  | (1,542) |  | (317) |  | (300) |  | (620) |  | (1,329) |
(1)The partially funded plans consist of supplementary executive retirement plans (SERPs) for eligible employees and certain OPEBs. The company partially funds the SERPs through letters of credit and a retirement compensation arrangement account with Canada Revenue Agency. Certain paid-up life insurance benefits are funded through life insurance contracts. (2)Our unfunded plans consist of certain OPEBs, which are paid as claims are incurred.
Disclosure of significant assumptions | We used the following key assumptions to measure the post-employment benefit obligations and the net benefit plans cost for the DB pension plans and OPEB plans. These assumptions are long-term, which is consistent with the nature of post-employment benefit plans.
|  |  | DB PENSION PLANS AND OPEB PLANS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 |  | 2020 | 2019
Post-employment benefit obligations |  |
| Discount rate | 2.6 | % | 3.1 | %
| Rate of compensation increase | 2.25 | % | 2.25 | %
| Cost of living indexation rate(1) | 1.6 | % | 1.6 | %
| Life expectancy at age 65 (years) | 23.2 |  | 23.2 |
(1)Cost of living indexation rate is only applicable to DB pension plans.
|  |  | DB PENSION PLANS AND OPEB PLANS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 |  | 2020 | 2019
Net post-employment benefit plans cost |  |
| Discount rate | 3.2 | % | 4.0 | %
| Rate of compensation increase | 2.25 | % | 2.25 | %
| Cost of living indexation rate(1) | 1.6 | % | 1.6 | %
| Life expectancy at age 65 (years) | 23.2 |  | 23.1 |
(1)Cost of living indexation rate is only applicable to DB pension plans.
Healthcare cost trend rates and sensitivity analysis | The following table shows the effect of a 1% change in the assumed trend rates in healthcare costs.
EFFECT ON POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS – INCREASE/(DECREASE) | 1% INCREASE | 1% DECREASE
Total service and interest cost | 3 |  | (3) |
Post-employment benefit obligations | 110 |  | (95) |
The following table shows a sensitivity analysis of key assumptions used to measure the net post-employment benefit obligations and the net post-employment benefit plans cost for our DB pension plans and OPEB plans.
|  |  |  | IMPACT ON NET POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLANS COST FOR 2020 – INCREASE/(DECREASE) | IMPACT ON POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 2020 – INCREASE/(DECREASE)
|  |  | CHANGE IN ASSUMPTION | INCREASE IN ASSUMPTION | DECREASE IN ASSUMPTION | INCREASE IN ASSUMPTION | DECREASE IN ASSUMPTION
Discount rate | 0.5 | % | (76) |  | 64 |  | (1,897) |  | 2,127 |
Life expectancy at age 65 | 1 year | 38 |  | (38) |  | 1,092 |  | (1,092) |
Post-employment benefit plan assets | The following table shows the target allocations for 2020 and the allocation of our post-employment benefit plan assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
|  |  | WEIGHTED AVERAGE TARGET ALLOCATION | TOTAL PLAN ASSETS FAIR VALUE
ASSET CATEGORY | 2020 | December 31, 2020 | December 31, 2019
Equity securities | 0%-40% | 23 | % | 22 | %
Debt securities | 60%-100% | 60 | % | 62 | %
Alternative investments | 0%-50% | 17 | % | 16 | %
Total |  | 100 | % | 100 | %
The following table shows the fair value of the DB pension plan assets for each category.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | 2019
Observable markets data |  |
| Equity securities |  |
|  | Canadian | 1,027 |  | 1,017 |
|  | Foreign | 5,242 |  | 4,534 |
| Debt securities |  |
|  | Canadian | 13,361 |  | 13,216 |
|  | Foreign | 2,913 |  | 2,385 |
|  | Money market | 369 |  | 219 |
Non-observable markets inputs |  |
| Alternative investments |  |
|  | Private equities | 2,564 |  | 2,119 |
|  | Hedge funds | 1,200 |  | 1,001 |
|  | Real estate | 1,033 |  | 948 |
|  | Other | 76 |  | 91 |
Total | 27,785 |  | 25,530 |
Disclosure of contributions to post-employment benefit plans | The following table shows the amounts we contributed to the DB and DC pension plans and the payments made to beneficiaries under OPEB plans.
|  |  | DB PLANS | DC PLANS | OPEB PLANS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019
Contributions/payments | (183) |  | (180) |  | (114) |  | (110) |  | (61) |  | (72) |

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Actuarial Assumptions For Defined Benefit Plans [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfActuarialAssumptionsForDefinedBenefitPlansTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Contributions to Post-employment Benefit Plans [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfContributionstoPostemploymentBenefitPlansTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Defined Benefit Plan Expense Recognized In Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Explanatory [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlanExpenseRecognizedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossExplanatoryTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Defined Benefit Plans Interest Cost Explanatory [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansInterestCostExplanatoryTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Defined Benefit Plans Service Cost Explanatory [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansServiceCostExplanatoryTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure Of Funded Status Of Post-employment Benefit Plans [Table Text Block] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | bce_DisclosureOfFundedStatusOfPostemploymentBenefitPlansTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | bce_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition The disclosure of the fair value of defined benefit plan assets. [Refer: Plan assets [member]; Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 142 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_142&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFairValueOfPlanAssetsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of a net defined benefit liability (asset). [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 140 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_140_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The disclosure of a sensitivity analysis for significant actuarial assumptions used to determine the present value of a defined benefit obligation. [Refer: Actuarial assumptions [member]; Defined benefit obligation, at present value] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2020-01-01 -Paragraph 145 -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_145&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2020-01-01 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration