INCOME TAXES - Schedule of Effective Income Tax Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
(Loss) income before (recovery of) provision for income taxes	$ (2,435)	$ (155)	$ 1,054
Expected Canadian statutory rate	26.90%	26.90%	26.90%
Expected (recovery) provision for of income taxes	$ (655)	$ (42)	$ 284
Non-deductible amounts:
Share-based compensation	30	4	20
Merger and acquisition costs	0	3	0
Adjustments to tax attributes	(147)	(87)	(33)
Non-taxable gain on disposal of investments	0	0	(50)
Changes in enacted income tax rates	0	0	30
Canadian tax impact of foreign exchange gain or loss on U.S. dollar denominated debt held by VPII and its Canadian Affiliates	11	174	23
Change in valuation allowance related to foreign tax credits and net operating losses	155	114	17
Change in valuation allowance on Canadian deferred tax assets and tax rate changes	472	230	255
Pharma fee	15	16	3
Change in uncertain tax positions	10	0	(2)
Foreign tax rate differences	(290)	(350)	(230)
Withholding taxes on foreign income	7	7	4
Goodwill impairment	377	0	0
Taxable foreign income	391	441	269
Tax benefit on intra-entity transfers	(399)	(375)	(420)
Other	(4)	(2)	4
Provision for (recovery of) income taxes	$ (27)	$ 133	174
Intra-entity transfers included in foreign tax rate difference			$ 273