XML 186 R71.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.4

Post-employment benefit plans (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2022
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 | 2022 | 2021
DB pension | (193) |  | (223) |
DC pension | (118) |  | (113) |
OPEBs | (2) |  | (2) |
Less: |  |
| Capitalized benefit plans cost | 64 |  | 72 |
Total post-employment benefit plans service cost | (249) |  | (266) |
Components of post-employment benefit plans financing cost | COMPONENTS OF POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT PLANS FINANCING INCOME (COST)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2022 | 2021
DB pension | 84 |  | 11 |
OPEBs | (33) |  | (31) |
Total net return (interest) on post-employment benefit plans | 51 |  | (20) |
Defined benefit plans recognized in comprehensive income | The statements of comprehensive income include the following amounts before income taxes.
|  | 2022 | 2021
Cumulative gains (losses) recognized directly in equity, January 1 | 419 |  | (2,014) |
| Actuarial gains in o ther comprehensive income(1) | 894 |  | 3,020 |
| Increase in the effect of the asset limit in o ther comprehensive income(2) | (328) |  | (587) |
Cumulative gains recognized directly in equity, December 31 | 985 |  | 419 |
(1)The cumulative actuarial gains recognized in the statement of comprehensive income are $1,699 million at December 31, 2022. (2)The cumulative increase in the effect of the asset limit recognized in the statement of comprehensive income is $714 million at December 31, 2022.
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
|  |  |  | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021
Post-employment benefit obligations, January 1 | (24,544) |  | (27,149) |  | (1,457) |  | (1,600) |  | (26,001) |  | (28,749) |
| Current service cost | (193) |  | (223) |  | (2) |  | (2) |  | (195) |  | (225) |
| Interest on obligations | (770) |  | (697) |  | (44) |  | (39) |  | (814) |  | (736) |
| Actuarial gains(1) | 4,856 |  | 2,137 |  | 294 |  | 113 |  | 5,150 |  | 2,250 |
| Benefit payments | 1,366 |  | 1,396 |  | 70 |  | 71 |  | 1,436 |  | 1,467 |
| Employee contributions | (9) |  | (9) |  | — |  | — |  | (9) |  | (9) |
| Other | (1) |  | 1 |  | 1 |  | — |  | — |  | 1 |
Post-employment benefit obligations, December 31 | (19,295) |  | (24,544) |  | (1,138) |  | (1,457) |  | (20,433) |  | (26,001) |
Fair value of plan assets, January 1 | 28,040 |  | 27,785 |  | 351 |  | 344 |  | 28,391 |  | 28,129 |
| Expected return on plan assets(2) | 875 |  | 708 |  | 11 |  | 8 |  | 886 |  | 716 |
| Actuarial (losses) gains (1) | (4,227) |  | 766 |  | (29) |  | 4 |  | (4,256) |  | 770 |
| Benefit payments | (1,366) |  | (1,396) |  | (70) |  | (71) |  | (1,436) |  | (1,467) |
| Employer contributions | 81 |  | 168 |  | 64 |  | 65 |  | 145 |  | 233 |
| Employee contributions | 9 |  | 9 |  | — |  | — |  | 9 |  | 9 |
| Transfers to DC plans | (57) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (57) |  | — |
| Other |  |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1 |  | — |  | 1 |
Fair value of plan assets, December 31 | 23,355 |  | 28,040 |  | 327 |  | 351 |  | 23,682 |  | 28,391 |
Plan asset (deficit) |  |  | 4,060 |  | 3,496 |  | (811) |  | (1,106) |  | 3,249 |  | 2,390 |
Effect of asset limit |  |  | (980) |  | (652) |  | — |  | — |  | (980) |  | (652) |
Interest on effect of asset limit |  | (21) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (21) |  | — |
Post-employment benefit asset (liability), December 31 | 3,059 |  | 2,844 |  | (811) |  | (1,106) |  | 2,248 |  | 1,738 |
Post-employment benefit assets | 3,559 |  | 3,472 |  | — |  | — |  | 3,559 |  | 3,472 |
Post-employment benefit obligations | (500) |  | (628) |  | (811) |  | (1,106) |  | (1,311) |  | (1,734) |
(1)Actuarial (losses) gains include experience losses of ($4,729) million in 2022 and gains of $907 million in 2021. (2)The actual (loss) return on plan assets was ($3,370) million or (11.6%) in 2022 and $1,486 million or 5.7% in 2021.
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 |  | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021
Present value of post-employment benefit obligations | (18,741) |  | (23,872) |  | (1,461) |  | (1,840) |  | (231) |  | (289) |  | (20,433) |  | (26,001) |
Fair value of plan assets | 23,291 |  | 27,979 |  | 391 |  | 412 |  | — |  | — |  | 23,682 |  | 28,391 |
Plan surplus (deficit) | 4,550 |  | 4,107 |  | (1,070) |  | (1,428) |  | (231) |  | (289) |  | 3,249 |  | 2,390 |
Effect of asset limit |  | (1,001) |  | (652) |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (1,001) |  | (652) |
Post-employment benefit asset (liability) | 3,549 |  | 3,455 |  | (1,070) |  | (1,428) |  | (231) |  | (289) |  | 2,248 |  | 1,738 |
(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 |  | 2022 | 2021
Post-employment benefit obligations |  |
| Discount rate | 5.3 | % | 3.2 | %
| Rate of compensation increase | 2.25 | % | 2.25 | %
| Cost of living indexation rate(1) | 1.6 | % | 1.6 | %
| Life expectancy at age 65 (years) | 23.3 |  | 23.3 |
(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 |  | 2022 | 2021
Net post-employment benefit plans cost |  |
| Discount rate | 3.4 | % | 2.9 | %
| Rate of compensation increase | 2.25 | % | 2.25 | %
| Cost of living indexation rate(1) | 1.6 | % | 1.6 | %
| Life expectancy at age 65 (years) | 23.3 |  | 23.2 |
(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 | 75 |  | (65) |
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 2022 – INCREASE/(DECREASE) | IMPACT ON POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS AT DECEMBER 31, 2022 – INCREASE/(DECREASE)
|  |  | CHANGE IN ASSUMPTION | INCREASE IN ASSUMPTION | DECREASE IN ASSUMPTION | INCREASE IN ASSUMPTION | DECREASE IN ASSUMPTION
Discount rate | 0.5 | % | (83) |  | 72 |  | (1,022) |  | 1,123 |
Cost of living indexation rate | 0.5 | % | 46 |  | (38) |  | 907 |  | (752) |
Life expectancy at age 65 | 1 year | 29 |  | (31) |  | 612 |  | (634) |
Post-employment benefit plan assets | The following table shows the target allocations for 2022 and the allocation of our post-employment benefit plan assets at December 31, 2022 and 2021.
|  |  | WEIGHTED AVERAGE TARGET ALLOCATION | TOTAL PLAN ASSETS FAIR VALUE
ASSET CATEGORY | 2022 | December 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021
Equity securities | 0%-40% | 15 | % | 16 | %
Debt securities (1) | 50%-100% | 52 | % | 61 | %
Alternative investments (1) | 0%-50% | 33 | % | 23 | %
Total |  | 100 | % | 100 | %
(1)We have reclassified amounts from the previous period to make them consistent with the presentation for the current period. The following table shows the fair value of the DB pension plan assets for each category.
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 | 2022 | 2021
Observable markets data |  |
| Equity securities |  |
|  | Canadian | 824 |  | 952 |
|  | Foreign | 2,555 |  | 3,436 |
| Debt securities |  |
|  | Canadian | 9,904 |  | 13,643 |
|  | Foreign (1) | 1,537 |  | 2,033 |
|  | Money market | 739 |  | 1,466 |
Non-observable markets inputs |  |
| Alternative investments |  |
|  | Private equities (1) | 1,017 |  | 976 |
|  | Hedge funds | 1,374 |  | 1,208 |
|  | Real estate and infrastructure (1) | 4,297 |  | 3,576 |
|  | Private debt (1) | 1,048 |  | 695 |
|  | Other | 60 |  | 55 |
Total | 23,355 |  | 28,040 |
(1)We have reclassified amounts from the previous period to make them consistent with the presentation for the current period.
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 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021
Contributions/payments | (81) |  | (168) |  | (59) |  | (114) |  | (64) |  | (65) |

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: | dtr-types: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: | dtr-types: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: | dtr-types: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: | dtr-types: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: | dtr-types: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: | dtr-types: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 2022-03-24 -Paragraph 142 -URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_142&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2022-03-24 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfFairValueOfPlanAssetsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | dtr-types: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 2022-03-24 -Paragraph 140 -Subparagraph a -URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_140_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2022-03-24 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | dtr-types: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 2022-03-24 -Paragraph 145 -URI https://taxonomy.ifrs.org/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2022-en-r&anchor=para_145&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2022-03-24 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsExplanatory
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | dtr-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration