Interest, advances and promissory notes payable (Details) - Summary of Interest Payable Activity - USD ($) |
9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2020 |
Dec. 31, 2019 |
|
| Summary of Interest Payable Activity [Abstract] | ||
| Beginning Balance | $ 5,364,997 | $ 4,836,127 |
| Interest incurred on promissory notes payable | 396,653 | 528,870 |
| Interest applied to purchase shares of common stock (note 6) | (2,318,542) | |
| Ending Balance | $ 3,443,108 | $ 5,364,997 |