| Pension and other benefits During the three months ended June 30, 2026, the Company received a refund, net of contributions, from its defined benefit pension plans of $1 million, and during the six months ended June 30, 2026, made contributions, net of refunds, of $2 million (three and six months ended June 30, 2025 - $4 million and $8 million contributions, net of refunds, respectively). Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost for defined benefit pension plans and other benefits included the following components:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For the three months ended June 30 | | Pensions | Other benefits | Total | | (in millions of Canadian dollars) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | | Current service cost | $ | 19 | | $ | 21 | | $ | 3 | | $ | 4 | | $ | 22 | | $ | 25 | | | Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost: | | | | | | | | Interest cost on benefit obligation | 118 | | 116 | | 6 | | 6 | | 124 | | 122 | | | Expected return on plan assets | (234) | | (231) | | — | | — | | (234) | | (231) | | | Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss | (1) | | 2 | | — | | (1) | | (1) | | 1 | | | Amortization of prior service costs | 1 | | 1 | | — | | — | | 1 | | 1 | | | Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | (116) | | (112) | | 6 | | 5 | | (110) | | (107) | | | Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | $ | (97) | | $ | (91) | | $ | 9 | | $ | 9 | | $ | (88) | | $ | (82) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For the six months ended June 30 | | Pensions | Other benefits | Total | | (in millions of Canadian dollars) | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | | Current service cost | $ | 38 | | $ | 42 | | $ | 6 | | $ | 7 | | $ | 44 | | $ | 49 | | | Other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost: | | | | | | | | Interest cost on benefit obligation | 236 | | 233 | | 11 | | 11 | | 247 | | 244 | | | Expected return on plan assets | (468) | | (463) | | — | | — | | (468) | | (463) | | | Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss | (2) | | 4 | | — | | (1) | | (2) | | 3 | | | Amortization of prior service costs | 3 | | 2 | | — | | — | | 3 | | 2 | | | Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | (231) | | (224) | | 11 | | 10 | | (220) | | (214) | | | Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost | $ | (193) | | $ | (182) | | $ | 17 | | $ | 17 | | $ | (176) | | $ | (165) | |
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