Share capital (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Statement [Line Items]

Disclosure of detailed information about shares, activity explanatory [Table Text Block]

	Year ended				Year ended
	Dec. 31, 2017				Dec. 31, 2016
	Common				Common
	shares		Amount		shares		Amount
Balance, beginning of year	237,271,188	$	1,588,319		235,231,688	$	1,576,600
Equity issuance	24,000,000		195,295		2,039,500		11,814
Share issue costs, net of tax	-		(6,205	)	-		(95	)
Balance, end of year	261,271,188	$	1,777,409		237,271,188	$	1,588,319