Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Financial instruments (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Financial instruments (Details)
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2017
CAD / shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
$ / shares
Financial Instruments          
Cash, insured amount     $ 600,000    
Cash, uninsured amount     10,800,000    
Common shares issued for cash, net of issue costs (in shares) | shares   1,536,169      
Common shares issued value   $ 1,076,000 5,684,000    
Stock issuance costs $ 800,000 $ 93,000 884,000    
Share Price | (per share)       CAD 0.86 $ 0.76
Proceeds from shares issued     $ 105,000    
Credit Availability Concentration Risk          
Financial Instruments          
Accounts Payable, Trade, Current         $ 1,300,000
Interest Rate Risk          
Financial Instruments          
Sensitivity Analysis of Fair Value, Transferor's Interests in Transferred Financial Assets, Impact of 10 Percent Adverse Change in Discount Rate         100,000
Minimum | Credit Availability Concentration Risk          
Financial Instruments          
Debt Instrument, Term   0 years      
Maximum | Credit Availability Concentration Risk          
Financial Instruments          
Debt Instrument, Term   5 years      
Maximum | Currency Risk          
Financial Instruments          
Foreign Currency Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value         $ 300,000
Capital Stock          
Financial Instruments          
Common shares issued for cash, net of issue costs (in shares) | shares   1,536,169 13,085,979    
Common shares issued value   $ 1,076,000 $ 5,684,000