| Pension and other benefits
In the three months ended June 30, 2019, the Company made contributions of $12 million (three months ended June 30, 2018 - $11 million) to its defined benefit pension plans. In the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company made contributions of $23 million (six months ended June 30, 2018 - $12 million, which is net of a $10 million refund of plan surplus) to its defined benefit pension plans.
Net periodic benefit costs for defined benefit pension plans and other benefits recognized in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 included the following components: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For the three months ended June 30 | | Pensions | | Other benefits | (in millions of Canadian dollars) | 2019 | 2018 | | 2019 | 2018 | Current service cost (benefits earned by employees) | $ | 27 |
| $ | 30 |
| | $ | 3 |
| $ | 3 |
| Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost: | | | | | | Interest cost on benefit obligation | 113 |
| 109 |
| | 5 |
| 5 |
| Expected return on fund assets | (237 | ) | (238 | ) | | — |
| — |
| Recognized net actuarial loss | 20 |
| 28 |
| | — |
| 1 |
| Amortization of prior service costs | — |
| — |
| | 1 |
| — |
| Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | (104 | ) | (101 | ) | | 6 |
| 6 |
| Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | $ | (77 | ) | $ | (71 | ) | | $ | 9 |
| $ | 9 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For the six months ended June 30 | | Pensions | | Other benefits | (in millions of Canadian dollars) | 2019 | 2018 | | 2019 | 2018 | Current service cost (benefits earned by employees) | $ | 54 |
| $ | 60 |
| | $ | 6 |
| $ | 6 |
| Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost: | | | | | | Interest cost on benefit obligation | 225 |
| 219 |
| | 10 |
| 9 |
| Expected return on fund assets | (474 | ) | (477 | ) | | — |
| — |
| Recognized net actuarial loss | 41 |
| 57 |
| | 2 |
| 2 |
| Amortization of prior service costs | — |
| (1 | ) | | 1 |
| — |
| Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | (208 | ) | (202 | ) | | 13 |
| 11 |
| Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | $ | (154 | ) | $ | (142 | ) | | $ | 19 |
| $ | 17 |
|
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