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Financial instruments - Liabilities Mature (Detail) - CAD CAD in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
--- | --- | ---
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt obligations | CAD 3,826,152 |
Convertible Debentures | 1,218 |
Advances in aid of construction | 78,636 |
Interest on long-term debt | 2,006,130 |
Purchase obligations | 501,867 |
Environmental obligation | 71,873 | CAD 76,853
Other obligations | 155,236 |
Total obligations | 6,727,602 |
Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 72,023 |
Interest rate swaps |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 |
Foreign exchange forward | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 3,422 |
Due less than 1 year |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt obligations | 279,724 |
Convertible Debentures | 0 |
Advances in aid of construction | 1,502 |
Interest on long-term debt | 172,659 |
Purchase obligations | 501,867 |
Environmental obligation | 7,765 |
Other obligations | 44,969 |
Total obligations | 1,026,207 |
Due less than 1 year | Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 4,386 |
Due less than 1 year | Interest rate swaps |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 10,613 |
Due less than 1 year | Foreign exchange forward | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 432 |
Due less than 1 year | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 2,290 |
Due 2 to 3 years |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt obligations | 570,132 |
Interest on long-term debt | 307,463 |
Environmental obligation | 18,858 |
Other obligations | 0 |
Total obligations | 905,565 |
Due 2 to 3 years | Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 8,077 |
Due 2 to 3 years | Interest rate swaps |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 0 |
Due 2 to 3 years | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 1,035 |
Due 4 to 5 years |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt obligations | 644,969 |
Interest on long-term debt | 250,824 |
Environmental obligation | 5,373 |
Other obligations | 0 |
Total obligations | 965,892 |
Due 4 to 5 years | Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 64,726 |
Due 4 to 5 years | Interest rate swaps |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | 0 |
Due after 5 years |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Long-term debt obligations | 2,331,327 |
Convertible Debentures | 1,218 |
Advances in aid of construction | 77,134 |
Interest on long-term debt | 1,275,184 |
Environmental obligation | 39,877 |
Other obligations | 110,267 |
Total obligations | 3,829,938 |
Due after 5 years | Cross currency swap | Net Investment Hedging |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | (5,166) |
Due after 5 years | Commodity contracts for regulatory operations |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Derivative financial instruments, liabilities | CAD 97 |

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