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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISK
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Disclosure of detailed information about financial instruments [abstract]  
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISK [Text Block]

14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT RISK   

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Company's risk management framework.  The Company has exposure to liquidity, credit, and market risk from the use of financial instruments.  Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, certain other assets, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities.   

 a. Liquidity risk   

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will be unable to meet its financial obligations as they come due.  The Company uses cash forecasts to ensure that there is sufficient cash on hand to meet short-term business requirements.  Cash is invested in highly liquid investments which are available to discharge obligations when they come due.  The Company does not maintain a line of credit.   

 b. Credit risk   

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents.  These financial instruments are at risk to the extent that the institutions issuing or holding them cannot redeem amounts when they are due or requested.  To limit its credit risk, the Company uses a restrictive investment policy.  It deposits cash and cash equivalents in Canadian chartered banks.  The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any allowance for losses, represents Western’s maximum exposure to credit risk.

 c. Market risk   

The Company is exposed to market risk because of the fluctuating values of its publicly traded marketable securities.  The Company has no control over these fluctuations and does not hedge its investments.  Marketable securities are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date.

As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, certain other assets, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities are considered to be reasonable approximations of their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of the marketable securities is determined by reference to published price quotations in an active market (classified as level 1 in the fair value hierarchy).