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Pension and other post-retirement benefits - Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - CAD CAD in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Pension Plans |  |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Net Gains Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning balance, January 1 | CAD 31,975 | CAD 29,461
Additions to AOCI | (3,716) | 4,479
Reclassification to regulatory accounts | 1,584 |
Amortization in current period | (1,290) | (1,965)
Ending balance, December 31 | 28,553 | 31,975
Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefits Plans, Net Prior Service Cost Credit [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning balance, January 1 | (6,959) | (4,970)
Additions to AOCI | 0 | (2,754)
Reclassification to regulatory accounts | 0 |
Amortization in current period | 868 | 765
Ending balance, December 31 | (6,091) | (6,959)
Actuarial losses (gains) - expected amortization in 2017 | (451) |
Past service gains - expected amortizations in 2017 | 781 |
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit |  |
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Net Gains Losses [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning balance, January 1 | (5,660) | (2,338)
Additions to AOCI | (4,276) | (3,242)
Reclassification to regulatory accounts | 4,902 |
Amortization in current period | 321 | (80)
Ending balance, December 31 | (4,713) | (5,660)
Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefits Plans, Net Prior Service Cost Credit [Roll Forward] |  |
Beginning balance, January 1 | (888) | 0
Additions to AOCI | 0 | (1,235)
Reclassification to regulatory accounts | 0 |
Amortization in current period | 365 | 347
Ending balance, December 31 | (523) | CAD (888)
Actuarial losses (gains) - expected amortization in 2017 | 214 |
Past service gains - expected amortizations in 2017 | CAD 328 |

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- Definition Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Defined Benefit Plan, Prior Service Cost (Credit), Reclassification Adjustment to Regulatory Accounts, before Tax + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefits Plans, Net Prior Service Cost Credit [Roll Forward] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Accumulated Net Gains Losses [Roll Forward] + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, before tax, of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for gain (loss) of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (j) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669686-108580 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before tax, of accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for cost (credit) of benefit change attributable to participants' prior service from plan amendment or plan initiation of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (j) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for gain (loss) of defined benefit plan expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (s) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (s) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before tax, of cost (credit) of benefit change attributable to participants' prior service from plan amendment or plan initiation of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (j) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669646-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e637-108580 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before tax, of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) of defined benefit plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e689-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e637-108580 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before tax, of gain (loss) for (increase) decrease in value of benefit obligation for change in actuarial assumptions and increase (decrease) in value of plan assets from experience different from that assumed of defined benefit plan, that has not been recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84228862&loc=SL7669646-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
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