Earnings Per Common Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

($ millions)		2017		2016
Net earnings		4 458		445
Dilutive impact of accounting for awards as equity-settled(1)		(1	)	(1	)
Net earnings – diluted		4 457		444
Net earnings attributable to common shareholders		4 458		434
Dilutive impact of accounting for awards as equity-settled(1)		(1	)	(1	)
Net earnings – diluted attributable to common shareholders		4 457		433
(millions of common shares)
Weighted average number of common shares		1 661		1 610
Dilutive securities:
	Effect of share options	4		2
Weighted average number of diluted common shares		1 665		1 612
(dollars per common share)
Basic and diluted earnings per share		2.68		0.28
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to common shareholders		2.68		0.27

(1) Cash payment alternatives are accounted for as cash-settled plans. As these awards can be exchanged for common shares of the company, they are considered potentially dilutive and are included in the calculation of the company's diluted net earnings per share if they have a dilutive impact in the period. Accounting for these awards as equity-settled was determined to have a dilutive impact for the year ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.