v3.26.1
capital structure financial policies - Calculation of free cash flow, and its reconciliation to cash provided by operating activities (Details) (Details)
$ in Millions, $ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2025
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2026
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2026
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2025
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2026
CAD ($)
Dec. 31, 2025
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2025
CAD ($)
Jun. 30, 2025
CAD ($)
Cash provided by operating activities                  
EBITDA       $ (3,110) $ (3,423) $ (6,609)   $ (6,922) $ (6,949)
Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements           273     (26)
Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment and TELUS Easy Payment mobile device financing           19     (157)
Cash Provided By Operating Activities Before Income Taxes           5,326     5,212
Items from the Consolidated statements of cash flows:                  
Share-based compensation, net of employee share purchase plan cash outflows           148     164
Net employee defined benefit plans expense $ 18 $ 14   31 29 62     68
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans (4) (5)   (9) (10) (22)     (18)
Gain on contributions of real estate to joint ventures           (51)     (65)
(Income) loss from equity accounted investments, net                 6
Gain on purchase of long-term debt           (303)      
Interest paid (450) (308)   (880) (679) (1,585)     (1,360)
Interest received 20 17   45 22 76     34
Other           (137)     (133)
Capital expenditures           237     (250)
Capital expenditure for acquisition from related party                 93
Related party construction credit facility repayment made concurrent with capital expenditure for acquisition from related party           26      
Income taxes paid, net of refunds           (311)     (460)
Cash provided by operating activities $ 1,342 $ 1,166   $ 2,392 $ 2,243 5,015     4,752
Difference                  
Effect of non-discretionary lease principal           (473)     (698)
Items from the Consolidated statements of cash flows:                  
Share-based compensation, net of employee share purchase plan cash outflows           5     13
Gain on contributions of real estate to joint ventures           51     65
Gain on purchase of long-term debt           303      
Other           137     133
Other working capital items           (237)     250
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisition from related party)           (2,630)     (2,391)
Capital expenditure for acquisition from related party                 (93)
Related party construction credit facility repayment made concurrent with capital expenditure for acquisition from related party and similar                 94
Difference before income taxes           (2,818)     (2,627)
Income taxes paid, net of refunds           116      
Difference           (2,702)     (2,627)
Free cash flow                  
EBITDA           6,609     6,949
Restructuring and other costs, net of disbursements           273     (26)
Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment and TELUS Easy Payment mobile device financing           19     (157)
Effect of non-discretionary lease principal           (473)     (698)
Free cash flow before income taxes           2,508     2,585
Items from the Consolidated statements of cash flows:                  
Share-based compensation, net of employee share purchase plan cash outflows           153     177
Net employee defined benefit plans expense           62     68
Employer contributions to employee defined benefit plans           (22)     (18)
(Income) loss from equity accounted investments, net                 6
Interest paid           (1,585)     (1,360)
Interest received           76     34
Capital expenditures (excluding acquisition from related party)           (2,630)     (2,391)
Related party construction credit facility repayment made concurrent with capital expenditure for acquisition from related party and similar           26     94
Income taxes paid, net of refunds           (195)     (460)
Free cash flow           $ 2,313     $ 2,125
Lease principal replaced through discretionary prepayment     $ 849       $ 0