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Canadian Pacific Railway

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FY2020 Annual Report · Canadian Pacific Railway
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2020 ANNUAL REPORT

CP PROUD

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

$ in millions of Canadian dollars except for per share data, ratios, or unless otherwise indicated

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Total revenues

Operating income

Adjusted operating income(1)

Operating ratio(2)

Adjusted operating ratio(1)

Net income

Adjusted income(1)

Diluted earnings per share ("EPS")

Adjusted diluted EPS(1)

Cash provided by operating activities

Cash used in investing activities

Cash used in financing activities

Free cash(1)

Return on average shareholders' equity(2)

Adjusted return on invested capital ("Adjusted ROIC")(1)

Dividend payout ratio(2)

Adjusted dividend payout ratio(1)

Long-term debt to Net income ratio(2)

Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio(1)

STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS(3)

Revenue ton-miles ("RTMs") (millions)

Carloads (thousands)

Gross ton-miles ("GTMs") (millions)

Locomotive productivity (GTMs / operating horsepower)

Fuel efficiency (U.S. gallons of locomotive fuel consumed /1,000 GTMs)

Average train weight - excluding local traffic (tons)

Average train length - excluding local traffic (feet)

Average terminal dwell (hours)

Average train speed (miles per hour, or "mph")

Total employees (end of period)

Workforce (end of period)

SAFETY INDICATORS(3)

$6,232

$2,411

$2,411

61.3%

61.3%

$1,599

$1,549

$10.63

$10.29

$2,089

($1,069)

($1,493)

$1,007

33.9%

14.0%

17.4%

18.0%

5.4

2.9

135,952

2,525

242,694

204

0.980

8,614

7,217

6.7

23.5

11,693

11,738

$6,554

$2,519

$2,468

61.6%

62.4%

$2,405

$1,666

$16.44

$11.39

$2,182

($1,295)

($700)

$874

43.4%

14.7%

13.3%

19.2%

3.4

2.6

142,540

2,634

252,195

201

0.980

8,806

7,214

6.6

22.6

12,215

12,294

$7,316

$2,831

$2,831

61.3%

61.3%

$1,951

$2,080

$13.61

$14.51

$2,712

($1,458)

($1,542)

$1,289

29.8%

16.2%

18.5%

17.3%

4.5

2.6

154,207

2,740

275,362

198

0.953

9,100

7,313

6.8

21.5

12,840

12,866

$7,792

$3,124

$3,124

59.9%

59.9%

$2,440

$2,290

$17.52

$16.44

$2,990

($1,803)

($1,111)

$1,357

35.6%

16.9%

17.9%

19.1%

3.6

2.4

154,378

2,766

280,724

202

0.955

9,129

7,388

6.4

22.2

12,694

12,732

$7,710

$3,311

$3,311

57.1%

57.1%

$2,444

$2,403

$17.97

$17.67

$2,802

($2,030)

($764)

$1,157

34.0%

16.7%

19.8%

20.1%

4.0

2.5

151,891

2,708

272,360

207

0.942

9,707

7,929

6.5

22.0

11,890

11,904

FRA personal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours

FRA train accidents per million train-miles

1.67

1.12

1.65

0.99

1.47

1.10

1.42

1.06

1.11

0.96

(1) These measures have no standardized meanings prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other

companies. These measures are defined and reconciled in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(2) These measures are defined in Item 6. Selected Financial Data in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(3) Certain statistical highlights and safety indicators have been updated to reflect new information or have been restated to conform with current presentation. The restatements of safety indicators reflect new information available

within specified periods stipulated by the Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA") but that exceed the Company's financial reporting timeline.

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  1

One purpose. 
One culture. 
12,000 strong.

NOTE: Some photos were taken previous to 
COVID-19 mandated health and safety guidelines.

2  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

“

It’s more than 
just a job.

“

I’m honoured to 
be a part of this 
CP family. 

“

It’s not just what I 
do every day, it’s 
what I love to do. 

“

I’m very  
proud to be  
a railroader. 

“

Pride means to me 
doing the best you 
can all the time. 

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  3

“

I love  
this job. 

CP PROUD

In a time of adversity, our CP family didn’t just meet the needs  
of the North American economy. We became stronger. 

In the past year, we made our railroad safer and more efficient, increased capacity, created service solutions and further developed our 
greatest asset – our people. 

CP’s performance in a challenging environment is the result of a family of railroaders united by a single purpose and culture. A 
12,000-strong team executing our precision scheduled railroading (PSR) operating model. A culture focused on service, performance and 
the pursuit of continued excellence, rooted in the values of accountability, diversity and pride. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, our CP family embraced our role as essential workers with pride and fortitude. We continued to 
work on the ground across the network, to support the supply chain and provide goods and services for North Americans when they 
needed them most. Our CP family served from locomotives, shops, yards, offices and home offices to deliver as promised. 

This year is a testament to the strength of PSR and our people. That is why we moved ahead with training and leadership development 
throughout the crisis so that our railroaders can continue to grow, whether they lead people, lead by example or both. 

CP’s strong results demonstrate our team’s skill and ability to deliver for customers and shareholders alike, in any environment.

We have only just started to unlock our true potential. 

4  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CREATING NEW CAPACITY  
AND SERVICE SOLUTIONS

Our growth strategy is both simple and compelling: leverage our land holdings 
and franchise strengths and convert them into new service offerings that are 
meaningful for our customers.

We want to create relationships that are mutually beneficial: 
our customers strengthen their market presence and we grow 
with them. We provide customers with a service offering that’s 
unique to CP and creates customer loyalty. This drives profitable, 
sustainable growth.

This past year, CP and A.P. Moller-Maersk announced that we 
will build and operate a world-class transload and distribution 
facility together in Vancouver, expanding supply chain options 
for customers of both companies. CP’s unique landholdings in 
Vancouver enable us to bring to market a transload facility that 

creates tremendous opportunity for sustainable growth. Together 
with Maersk, a global shipping leader, we will strengthen 
intermodal service in North America.

The opportunity matches CP’s strategic land with a new customer 
looking to control their end-to-end supply chain, reduce third-
party truck involvement and remove thousands of round trips 
from Vancouver roads. The new transload service will be an 
expansion of CP’s existing Vancouver Intermodal Facility and 
will benefit from turnkey rail infrastructure. The import transload 
facility is planned to be operational in 2021.

NEW TRANSLOAD FACILITY

CP opened its new multi-commodity transload facility 
in Montréal. The new facility offers transloading 
services and supplementary intermodal transportation 
and distribution services from CP’s Côte Saint-Luc 
yard, with 50 acres for future development to provide 
customers with access to new markets.

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  5

RECORD GRAIN VOLUME

CP moved 31.32 million metric tonnes of Canadian 
grain and grain products in 2020, more than any 
prior calendar year in our history. This performance 
is a testament to the efficiency of CP’s 8,500-foot 
High Efficiency Product train model, which more 
grain customers are converting to use, and strong 
collaboration with farmers and supply chain enablers.

AUTOMOTIVE GEARING UP 

We are growing with our customers and extending 
our reach in the automotive space, expanding auto 
compounds in Vancouver, Calgary and Cottage Grove, 
MN. Combined with a new auto compound in Chicago 
and a new NBSR compound in Saint John, we are well 
positioned to continue ramping up in this sector.

6  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

FORT NELSON

MINARET

DAWSON 
CREEK

TECK

BC

EDMONTON
AB

SCOTFORD

LLOYDMINSTER 

SK

MB

TISDALE

SASKATOON

VANCOUVER

HUNTINGDON 

LUMBY

KINGSGATE

CALGARY

MOOSE
JAW

REGINA

COUTTS

BRACKEN

ASSINIBOIA

ESTEVAN

KEMNAY

WHITETAIL

PORTAL

BISBEE

KRAMER

WINNIPEG 

NOYES

UP

BNSF

NEW TOWN

DEVILS
LAKE

ERKSINE

BNSF

WA

PORTLAND

OR

ID

ON

THUNDER BAY

MT

WY

ND

SD

NE

BNSF,
CN, UP

TRACY

SHELDON

MN

DULUTH

SAULT STE. MARIE

MI

MINNEAPOLIS/
ST. PAUL
WI

MASON CITY

IA

CHICAGO

IL

MI

CSX, NS

KITCHENER

MILWAUKEE 

DETROIT

LIMA

OH

BNSF, CN, 
CSX, NS, UP 

IN

JEFFERSONVILLE

CP TRAFFIC DENSITY (GTMs Per Route Mile1)

90 MILLION AND OVER

60-89 MILLION

30-59 MILLION

15-29 MILLION

UP TO 15 MILLION

CP TRACKAGE, HAULAGE AND COMMERCIAL RIGHTS

OTHER CLASS 1 RAILROADS

NL

CONNECTION WITH OTHER CLASS 1 RAILROAD

PORT TERMINAL

QC

1 GTMs averaged between specific route locations. 

NL

ST. LEONARD

NB

PE

SAINT JOHN

ST. STEPHEN

NS

SUDBURY

TÉMISCAMING

QUÉBEC CITY

MONTRÉAL

GATINEAU

TORONTO

BUFFALO

NY

ALBANY

CSX, NS

PA

NS

NJ

MILLINOCKET

ME

BROWNVILLE

NEWPORT

JCT.

BURLINGTON

VT

NH

SEARSPORT

ROCKLAND

BRUNSWICK

AYER

MA

RI

CT

NEW LONDON

NEW YORK

(THE BRONX, FRESH POND)

BETHLEHEM

MD

PHILADELPHIA 

WV

DE

NV

UT

CO

KS

KCS, 
NS, UP 

CA

KANSAS CITY

MO

AZ

BC

OUR NETWORK
873  
SHORTEST 
ROUTES
MILES
MOST BORDER  
CROSSINGS
IN WESTERN CANADA

VANCOUVER TO U.S. MIDWEST
TORONTO TO CALGARY
SAINT JOHN TO MONTRÉAL  
AND TORONTO

AVERAGE LENGTH OF HAUL

BCS

NM

OK

AR

TN

11 PORTS

SERVED ON WEST 
AND EAST COASTS

CO

CH

SO

SI

DG

EM

100+

TRANSLOAD FACILITIES

TX

NL

MS

AL

LA

13,000
MILE

RAIL NETWORK

TM

KY

VA

NC

SC

QC

GA

QUEBEC CITY

ST. LEONARD

CARIBOU

FORT FAIRFIELD

HOULTON

NB

SAINT 

JOHN

ST. STEPHEN

NS

MONTRÉAL

OAKFIELD

MILLINOKET

BROWNVILLE JCT.

FL

NY

NEWPORT

BURLINGTON

VT

NH

ME

SEARSPORT

ROCKLAND

BRUNSWICK

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FORT NELSON

MINARET

DAWSON 

CREEK

TECK

BC

EDMONTON

AB

TISDALE

SASKATOON

SCOTFORD

LLOYDMINSTER 

SK

MB

VANCOUVER

HUNTINGDON 

LUMBY

KINGSGATE

CALGARY

MOOSE

JAW

REGINA

WINNIPEG 

ASSINIBOIA

ESTEVAN

KEMNAY

COUTTS

BRACKEN

WHITETAIL

PORTAL

BISBEE

KRAMER

NOYES

UP

BNSF

NEW TOWN

DEVILS

LAKE

ERKSINE

THUNDER BAY

BNSF

WA

PORTLAND

OR

ID

MT

WY

MN

DULUTH

SAULT STE. MARIE

MI

MINNEAPOLIS/

ST. PAUL

WI

ND

SD

NE

BNSF,

CN, UP

TRACY

SHELDON

MASON CITY

IA

KCS, 

NS, UP 

KANSAS CITY

MO

OK

AR

NV

UT

CO

KS

CA

AZ

NM

BC

TX

LA

SO

CH

BCS

SI

DG

NL

TM

CO

EM

CP TRAFFIC DENSITY (GTMs Per Route Mile1)

90 MILLION AND OVER

60-89 MILLION

30-59 MILLION

15-29 MILLION

UP TO 15 MILLION

CP TRACKAGE, HAULAGE AND COMMERCIAL RIGHTS

OTHER CLASS 1 RAILROADS

NL

CONNECTION WITH OTHER CLASS 1 RAILROAD

ON

PORT TERMINAL

QC

1 GTMs averaged between specific route locations. 

ST. LEONARD

NB

PE

SAINT JOHN
NS

ST. STEPHEN

MILLINOCKET

ME

BROWNVILLE
JCT.

NEWPORT

BURLINGTON
VT
NH

SEARSPORT
ROCKLAND

BRUNSWICK

SUDBURY

TÉMISCAMING

QUÉBEC CITY

MONTRÉAL

GATINEAU

TORONTO

BUFFALO

NY
ALBANY

CSX, NS
PA

NS
NJ

BETHLEHEM
MD

PHILADELPHIA 

AYER

MA
RI
NEW LONDON

CT

NEW YORK
(THE BRONX, FRESH POND)

MI

CSX, NS

KITCHENER

MILWAUKEE 

DETROIT

CHICAGO

IL

LIMA

OH

BNSF, CN, 

CSX, NS, UP 

IN

JEFFERSONVILLE

WV

DE

KY

VA

TN

AL

MS

NC

SC

QC

GA

QUEBEC CITY

MONTRÉAL

OAKFIELD

MILLINOKET

BROWNVILLE JCT.

FL

NY

NEWPORT

BURLINGTON

VT

NH

ME

SEARSPORT

ROCKLAND

BRUNSWICK

ST. LEONARD

CARIBOU
FORT FAIRFIELD
NB

HOULTON

SAINT 
JOHN

ST. STEPHEN

NS

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  7

STRENGTHENING 
OUR NETWORK 

NL

Our strong position has allowed us  
to transform a significant portion of 
our network.

CP’s purchase of the Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CMQ) 
and acquisition of the full ownership of the Detroit River Tunnel 
Partnership (DRTP) strengthens our eastern network and marks 
CP’s return as a truly coast-to-coast railroad.

Together with increased efficiencies, extended sidings, surplus 
land and innovation, we continue to create new service offerings 
and highly desired capacity on our network. 

CP has the most compelling value proposition for customers. We 
have the shortest and fastest routes in key lanes across Canada 
and the U.S. Our flagship transcontinental service provides the 
fastest and most consistent service between Eastern Canada, 
Calgary and Vancouver. 

We leverage strategic relationships to extend our reach past the 
mainline. CP has connections with other railways; a network of 
more than 100 transload facilities across Canada and the U.S. to 
further our reach to markets not directly served by rail; and, links 
with ports on both the west and east coasts. 

We are also bringing our customers closer to our network. 
Through ongoing input and insight from our Customer Advisory 
Council, we are leveraging innovative technology to create 
a more seamless customer experience. We are providing our 
customers with increased visibility to manage their inventory or 
fleet and improved access to information that integrates with 
their own business systems. CP is providing effective real-time 
communication that gives customers the information they need, 
when they need it. Our network strategy is straightforward:  
meet customer needs and keep the supply chain moving safely 
and efficiently. 

Service excellence wins business. Capacity allows it to grow.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The opportunities created by our return 
to the Atlantic region are generational. 

EASTERN REACH EXPANDED
In June 2020, CP completed the acquisition of the CMQ and its 
rail lines primarily in Québec and Maine, stretching approximately 
481 miles. CP is now a 13,000-mile rail network connecting the 
Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast across six Canadian provinces 
and 11 U.S. states. 

The opportunities created by our return to the Atlantic region  
are generational. 

After a 25-year absence, CP and its customers now have 
seamless, safe and efficient access to deep-water, congestion-
free Atlantic Ocean ports at Searsport, Maine, and Saint John, 
N.B., via Eastern Maine Railway Company and New Brunswick 
Southern Railway. 

The Port of Saint John can move products in every line of our 
business, including containers, automotive and bulk commodities. 
The Port of Searsport provides materials handling in many areas, 
including bulk, break-bulk, heavy lift and liquid transfer. 

This expansion of CP’s network directly and efficiently connects 
Atlantic Canada to Montréal, Toronto and the U.S. Midwest.  
We also have access to 10 additional transload facilities that 
serve a variety of commodities. Importantly, we now have a lane 
that is approximately 200 miles shorter than the competition, 
getting CP customers from the East Coast into Montréal,  
Toronto and Chicago faster. That’s just the starting point  
as we continuously work to do better.

Our customers are aligned. After the successful calls to Port of 
Saint John in 2020, Hapag-Lloyd will begin regular service via  
CP to this key port starting in 2021. 

CP has committed to investing up to $90 million over three  
years into the CMQ property to enhance safety and efficiency 
over the corridor. 

Complementing that investment is the Port of Saint John’s  
$205 million West Side Modernization project, which includes a 
new wharf, a terminal upgrade and a deeper shipping channel. 
These strategic investments, along with anticipated future 
investments, will make it possible for the Port of Saint John to 

increase capacity four-fold to 800,000 TEUs (20-foot-equivalent 
units) in the future. 

With a world-class terminal operator in DP World and CP’s 
investment in the CMQ, we are giving customers and shareholders 
exposure to a new world-class gateway in the years to come.

CONSOLIDATING A KEY CORRIDOR
To further strengthen our eastern network, CP moved from 
minority owner to acquiring full control of the DRTP. By taking 
100 percent ownership of the 1.6-mile tunnel linking Windsor, 
Ont., and Detroit, MI, CP can better operate the asset to the 
benefit of our customers and the North American supply chain. 
The accretive acquisition immediately reduces CP’s operating 
costs and increases margins related to movements through 
the tunnel. Control of this strategic asset, combined with our 
purchase of CMQ, will further integrate the eastern part of our 
network and give us leverage to move more traffic from Atlantic 
Canada through to the Midwest.

ATLANTIC OPPORTUNITY

DEEP-WATER ACCESS AT  
SEARSPORT, MAINE & SAINT JOHN, N.B.

2 NEW PORTS
4XCAPACITY
200 GETTING CUSTOMERS FROM THE EAST COAST  

MILES SHORTER 

PORT SAINT JOHN CAPACITY PLANNED TO  
INCREASE FROM 200,000 TO 800,000 TEUs

INTO MONTRÉAL AND TORONTO FASTER

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  9

10  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

RESILIENCE: PERFORMANCE 
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Thanks to our industry-leading operating model and world-class employees,  
we have not only persevered throughout 2020 but are strongly positioned  
for the future.

FREIGHT REVENUE VARIANCE(1)

Foreign Exchange Adjusted % change, 2020 Freight Revenue vs 2019

8%

6%

7%

15%

Grain

Coal

  -17%

Potash

Fertilizers & Sulphur

Forest Products

Energy, Chemicals & Plastics

Metals, Minerals & Consumer

  -17%

Automotive

Intermodal

Total Change

-9%

-1%

-2%

(1%) 

3%DILUTED EPS 
GROWTH

7%ADJUSTED DILUTED  
EPS GROWTH(1)

(1)  These measures have no standardized meaning prescribed by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other 

companies. These measures are defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
+6% 

RECORD AVG. TRAIN 

WEIGHTS

+7% 

RECORD AVG. TRAIN 

LENGTHS

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  11

57.1%OPERATING RATIO

COMPANY RECORD 

BUSINESS MIX 

% of 2020 Freight Revenue

Merchandise  36%
Energy, Chemicals  
& Plastics  20%

Metals, Minerals  
& Consumer  8%

Automotive  4% 

Forest Products  4%

Intermodal  21%

Bulk  43%
Grain  24%

Coal  8%

Potash  7%

Fertilizers & Sulphur  4%

15th STRAIGHT YEAR
INDUSTRY LEADER IN SAFETY  

0.96: FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REPORTABLE 
TRAIN ACCIDENT FREQUENCY (PER MILLION TRAIN-MILES)

12  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Bottom right: A: THANK YOU, CP
North Americans show their appreciation for CP 
employees as they continue to work during the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
fs

TRAIN INSPECTION PORTAL

Our high-speed camera-based train 
inspection system is capable of 
producing full body high-resolution 
images of trains at track speed. 

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  13

BETTER, SAFER,  
MORE EFFICIENT

We innovate today for safer and more efficient rail operations tomorrow. 
We are focused on developing and implementing technology that provides 
practical solutions to enhance our best-in-class safety and efficiency. 

Our technology enables us to optimize assets and proactively 
manage repairs across the network to minimize potentially 
costly failures and enhance network efficiency. Our technology 
innovations are aimed at reducing dwell, improving speed, 
running longer and heavier trains and ensuring that we 
continue to operate North America’s safest railway. All of these 
innovations will help CP operate safely and control costs. 

SAFETY THROUGH AUTOMATION 
TRAIN INSPECTION PORTAL 
Located on our Maple Creek subdivision, our high-speed 
camera-based train inspection system is capable of producing 
full body high-resolution images of trains at track speed. The 
system uses multiple algorithms to help identify defective car 
components and detects 87 percent more required repairs than 
visual inspections. CP’s portal stands apart from other similar 
portals through the use of infrared imaging which better detects 
issues and reduces the likelihood for images to be distorted. The 
portal produces 72 high-resolution images per car. CP received a 
Transport Canada exemption for visual inspections for outbound 
loaded potash trains. When used in conjunction with the cold 
wheel brake test alternative, loaded potash trains do not require 
any manual or brake inspections and are free to depart, which 
reduces dwell by up to four hours for every train. In addition, 
undercarriage imaging inspects the underside of all passing 
railcars and locomotives to identify missing bolts, bent or broken 
rigging, open bottom gates, broken coupling systems and draft 
arrangements. Combining all of these systems, we are able to 
reduce dwell, improve employee productivity, inspect trains  
360 degrees and increase safety. 

AUTONOMOUS TRACK GEOMETRY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (ATGMS) 
ATGMS is a system that uses a non-contact, laser-based optical 
measuring system attached beneath a boxcar that operates in 
revenue train service. We are able to detect, in real-time, defects 
that predict track deterioration. Our technology allows us to improve 
service, better prevent derailments and reduce service failures. 

VEHICLE TRACK INSPECTION 
Technology mounted on our locomotives can identify possible 
track deviations by measuring vertical and horizontal accelerations. 
Algorithms are then used to determine the type and severity of 
deviation and notifications are automatically sent to field personnel 
for remediation. Our vehicle track interaction systems now analyze 
more than 600,000 miles of data annually on our network. 

CP INNOVATION 

BROKEN RAIL DETECTION IN DARK TERRITORY 
In our non-signaled territories, or dark territories, we are 
leveraging cost-effective technologies to automatically detect 
broken rails by running circuits through the rail. This provides 
the same benefit of identifying broken rail as Centralized Traffic 
Control at a tenth of the cost.

COLD WHEEL TECHNOLOGY 
Our cold wheel technology can evaluate air brakes on 
descending grades using wheel temperatures. A wheel with no 
heat when descending a grade signifies that the brakes may not 
be applying effectively. We are able to leverage this technology 
to optimize assets by efficiently completing repairs. This test, 

14  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

which was developed by CP, has a 32 percent higher detection 
rate than traditional inspections. CP proactively worked with 
Transport Canada to obtain an exemption from visual inspection 
requirements, which reduces terminal dwell. The exemption allows 
us to remove 2,400 hours of annual inspection time for each of the 
coal, potash, and sulphur fleets. We have received an exemption 
for grain, and are seeking an additional exemption for intermodal. 

CRACKED WHEEL DETECTION 
We have invented a method to detect and proactively remove 
wheels that have potential to break. The award-winning detection 
system identifies metallurgical defects in the surface of the 
wheels that could be missed via traditional visual inspection.  
This technology enables CP to detect defects and conduct 
proactive maintenance before a wheel failure occurs. 

ENHANCED RAIL FLAW DETECTION 
Leveraging our cracked wheel technology, we have applied this 
innovation to identify rolling contact fatigue electromagnetically 
on the surface of the rail. The technology uses an algorithm to 
identify the depth of cracks in the rail, compared to the rest of 
the analyzed rail, and if deemed an outlier, the rail is flagged for 
repair. We are then able to proactively manage rail repairs through 
either rail grinding or replacement. With this rail technology, we 
are able to better prevent derailments and avoid service failures.

OPTIMIZING OPERATIONS*  

LEVERAGING BIG DATA 

WHEEL LIFE FORECASTING 
Leveraging data analytics, CP can predict within a month 
when wheel failures may occur, which improves safety, reduces 
online failures and decreases the need to set off cars in transit, 
which impacts network speed. We are able to use this data to 
proactively conduct maintenance on the affected wheels and 
reduce mechanical failures. Our wheel analytics have reduced 
wheel-related service interruptions by 30 percent. In addition, 
private car owners can subscribe to our reports to conduct their 
own proactive maintenance, which will continue to drive down 
service interruptions. 

PREDICTIVE BEARING FAILURE 
Our acoustic detector system predicts when a bearing is going 
to fail up to three months in advance. The microphones located 
next to the track are able to detect bearing defects before failure 
by inferring acoustic signals from train noises. Our patented 
detection process has reduced online bearing-related failures by 
95 percent by enabling proactive detection and replacement. In 
2018, our predictive analytics innovation was recognized with a 
safety award by the Railway Association of Canada. 

RELATED  
SERVICE 

30% WHEEL-  
2,400 DWELL 

INTERRUPTIONS  95% ONLINE 
87% IMPROVED  

FLAW 
DETECTION 

BEARING-
RELATED 
FAILURES

TIME FOR 
CERTAIN 
FLEETS

HOURS

*Compared to previous technology and methods.

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  15

SUSTAINABLY DRIVEN

Sustainability is ingrained in CP’s precision scheduled railroading culture.

Do better. Do more with less. Create long-term, win-win 
relationships with customers. Be mindful of our people, 
shareholders and the communities we operate in – and be safe. 
Our focus on long-term sustainable growth is aligned with 
environmental, social and governance performance.

CP’s leadership in sustainability was recognized by several 
organizations in 2020.

We were added to the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index 
North America, which measures corporate sustainability 
leaders’ performance through a comprehensive assessment of 
economic, environmental and social criteria, in a year that saw 
a record number of participants in the Corporate Sustainability 
Assessment. CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) 
awarded CP a leadership level score of A- for our 2020 climate 

change disclosure. CP has been a contributing participant to 
CDP for more than a decade, consistently disclosing progress 
on improving the management of greenhouse gas emissions 
and ongoing energy efficiency initiatives. World Finance’s 
Sustainability Awards 2020 recognized us as a sustainability 
leader in the transportation industry for our efforts in transitioning 
to a low-carbon economy. Corporate Knights Magazine included 
CP on its Best 50 Corporate Citizens list, and we were named one 
of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2020.

Year-in, year-out, we are committed to operating in an ethical 
and responsible manner that considers our obligations to 
employees, customers, communities and shareholders – and 
we are seeking to understand how we can leverage our people, 
processes and technology to become even better.

Rendering of solar installation at our Calgary 
headquarters, to be completed in early 2021.

16  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ENVIRONMENTAL

75%
RAIL VS. 
TRUCKING
LESS GHG EMISSIONS
44% REDUCED GHG 

INTENSITY  
(2020 VS 1990)

SOCIAL

HELPED RAISE 
THROUGH  
CP HAS HEART  
TO IMPROVE THE HEART HEALTH OF NORTH AMERICANS

$2.47M
43% TRAIN 

ACCIDENT 
FREQUENCY 

(2020 VS 2012)

GOVERNANCE

54.5% OF DIRECTORS 

ARE MEMBERS OF 
DESIGNATED GROUPS

ENVIRONMENTAL 
At CP, we believe moving freight by rail will continue to play 
a crucial role in the low carbon economy in North America. In 
2020, we released our first public statement on climate change, 
demonstrating our commitment to take action and meet the 
challenge of climate change. Our statement supports the goals 
of the Paris Agreement and the Pan-Canadian Framework 
on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which seek to limit 
global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial 
levels. CP committed to establishing a science-based emissions 
reduction target to guide its climate action. In 2020, we 
completed a comprehensive scenario analysis to understand the 
full range of possible climate change impacts to our business 
and align with the recommendations of the Task Force on 
Climate-Related Financial Disclosure. Through this work, we 
plan to formalize the integration of climate-related risks into our 
enterprise risk-management mechanisms and develop strategies 
for mitigation of risk and pursuit of opportunity. 

This past year, we broke ground on one of the largest private 
solar operations in Alberta at our headquarters in Calgary. 
The installation will be completed in 2021 and is expected to 
generate more power than consumed annually at this location. 
It will also help avoid an estimated 2,600 tonnes of carbon 
emissions a year. 

SOCIAL 
CP believes that we must focus on not only our economic impact, 
but also on the ways in which we contribute to society. Whether 
it’s establishing a culture of integrity, inclusion, diversity and 
respect within our workforce; integrating workplace, operational 
and public safety into everything we do; supporting communities 
along our network through job creation, business partnerships or 
educational programs; or supporting healthy lifestyle initiatives, 
we recognize that our success is directly linked to building 
positive relationships with all of our stakeholders. 

In 2020, we retained our status as the industry’s leader with the 
lowest FRA-reportable train accident rate in North America for 
the 15th consecutive year, demonstrating the effectiveness of our 
efforts to protect public safety and the environment. 

Our culture is focused on people. We believe that different 
backgrounds, experiences and perspectives enhance creativity 
and innovation and encourage diversity of thought in the 
workplace. In 2020, CP provided respectful and inclusive 
workplace training to 1,885 employees. Additionally, 

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  17

approximately 800 management employees completed diversity 
and inclusion education sessions. Since 2019, more than 1,500 
executives, engineering, mechanical, operations, network 
services and head office management employees received 
Indigenous cultural awareness training as part of CP’s support 
for diversity and inclusion in our workplace. 

In response to ongoing social unrest and social injustice across the 
U.S., CP donated US$1 million to three organizations to support 
the people of Minneapolis (home to the headquarters of our U.S. 
operations) and meaningful positive social change nationally. CP 
also continued to support the development and advancement of 
women within our operations; increased our veteran recruitment 
and hiring efforts; and, progressed our relationships with 
associations and organizations that attract, recruit and support 
skilled immigrants, persons with disabilities and women.

GOVERNANCE 
Our commitment to sustainability and resulting performance is 
guided by our Board of Directors, comprising of a diverse group 
of individuals with expertise in rail, strategic planning, risk 
management, crisis response, finance and accounting, executive 
compensation and human resources. Led by Isabelle Courville, 

the first female chair of any Class 1 railroad in North America, 
CP’s board has 45 percent female representation and nine 
percent visible minority representation. Accordingly, 54.5 percent 
of CP’s Board are members of designated groups. 

The Board works with our executive leaders to establish and 
regularly review short and long-term strategic objectives for 
CP. The Board also oversees these efforts through several 
committees, including the Risk and Sustainability Committee, 
formed in 2019, which monitors oversight of CP’s key risks, 
strategies and sustainability topics. 

CP remains committed to increasing diversity throughout all 
levels of the organization and implemented an employee diversity 
and inclusion policy. In addition, CP’s Board of Directors adopted 
a Board diversity policy, which outlines that recommendation 
of directors for election or appointment to the Board will be 
made based on balance of skills, background, experience and 
knowledge, and will take into account diversity considerations, 
such as gender, age, ethnicity and different abilities.

For more information on our sustainability commitment and 
reporting, visit sustainability.cpr.ca

18  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  19

LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

OUR CP FAMILY IS RESILIENT,  
TOUGH AND COMMITTED

This past year demonstrated the full strength of our conviction and pride  
in being CP railroaders.  

In a time of great challenge and need during a global pandemic, 
the CP family delivered. North Americans now recognize, more 
than ever before, that the railroaders who deliver supplies they 
count on are essential workers. 

in a tough environment. In 2020, facing economic headwinds, we 
grew reported diluted earnings per share 3 percent to 17.97 and 
adjusted diluted earnings per share 7 percent to $17.67(1) and our 
share price appreciated by 33 percent.

More capacity, new service solutions, innovations in safety, 
environmental leadership and extended network reach – all the 
result of our 12,000-strong family of railroaders united by the 
shared purpose and values of precision scheduled railroading 
(PSR). As 2020 has clearly shown, there are no limits to what we 
can achieve together.

The playbook for our ongoing success is straightforward: deliver 
excellent service that provides value to customers and rewards 
to shareholders; do it safely and with the lowest possible 
environmental impact; provide a rewarding workplace that 
invests in its people; and grow in lockstep with our operating 
model, not at its expense. 

I am extremely proud of our operational performance during 
a volatile year. The people who power our railroad did an 
extraordinary job effectively managing service, train weights, train 
lengths and crews as volumes came back. As a true PSR railroad, 
we know a low operating ratio is an outcome of running the 
business the right way. In 2019, our operating ratio was sub-60 
percent, a company record. Despite the extraordinary challenges 
thrown at us in 2020, we produced a new record-low operating 
ratio of 57.1 percent. This year-over-year improvement truly 
demonstrates the resiliency of our PSR operating model and the 
power of our culture of accountability, particularly while operating 

We also continue to create value that cannot be easily replicated 
– unique, exceptional service offerings and cost structures that 
are second to none. CP has the shortest lengths of haul in key 
domestic markets and we have built upon that competitive 
advantage with faster and more reliable service. CP also 
possesses significant land holdings at key locations across our 
network, giving us optionality to create unique market solutions 
for customers. 

There are no shortcuts to long-term, sustainable success. If we 
are going to win in this marketplace, we’ve got to consistently 
provide meaningful, sustainable customer-focused solutions. 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
If we’re investing in growth, it has to make sense for the long 
term and fit with our franchise. Sustainable means sticking to  
our model.

Our agreement with Maersk is a textbook example. In 
Vancouver, approximately 25 percent of what comes off 
tidewater gets transloaded, as opposed to 75 percent at other 
West Coast ports. Most goods are trucked off the port in a very 
congested area. We’re solving that. Our proposal to Maersk: 
let’s build a facility inside our existing land footprint, provide you 
with rail service from the port and reduce the need for trucking. 

(1)   This measure has no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. This measure is defined and 

reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

20  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

There are no shortcuts to  
long-term, sustainable 
success. If we are going to 
win in this marketplace, we’ve 
got to consistently provide 
meaningful, sustainable 
customer-focused solutions. 

Together, we are constructing a new, world-class transload and 
distribution facility in Vancouver to expand CP’s and Maersk’s 
supply chain options for customers. It’s a win-win for CP, for 
Maersk and for the environment. 

In lockstep with the grain supply chain, we are also moving 
record volumes of grain as a result of the 8,500-foot High 
Efficiency Product train model. Our new high efficiency railcars 
carry 15 percent more grain by volume. Working in close 
collaboration with grain shippers, we continue to set records for 
Canadian grain across all metrics and have yet to reach our full 
potential as more customers adopt our model. We continue to 
invest in our grain fleet with additional hopper cars coming into 
service each week. Since announcing a half-billion-dollar plan 
in 2018, CP has added more than 3,800 new hopper cars to its 
fleet via purchase or lease. 

Our recent acquisition of Central Maine & Quebec Railway has 
extended our reach and gives us deep-water, congestion-free 
access to two Atlantic Ocean ports – and a transformational 
opportunity to create new capacity, service and growth. Hapag-
Lloyd will begin regular service with CP and Port of Saint John 
starting in 2021. CP’s 200-mile route advantage to key centers 
like Montreal, Toronto and Chicago provides unmatched service 
and the opportunity to grow the Port of Saint John into the key 
Atlantic Canada trade gateway. CP, along with the Port of Saint 
John, is investing in improvements and new capacity to bring 
more long-term customers online.

These are just some of the many new service offerings and 
opportunities across all of our lines of business that point to 
strong growth potential in 2021 and beyond. 

SAFETY INNOVATION
Operating safely is a foundational principle at CP. I am proud 
to state that this past year, CP achieved a new record low 
for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-reportable injuries 
and held our position as the safest Class 1 railroad in North 
America for the 15th straight year, based on FRA-reportable 
train accident frequency. We continued to strengthen our Home 
Safe program to help ensure our railroaders go home safely, 
and made milestone achievements not only in improving safety 
but also in strengthening network efficiency. For example, our 
train inspection portal technology and cold wheel brake test 
innovation can detect significantly more defects than traditional 
inspections. Both innovations have made our operations safer 
and earned exemptions from Transport Canada, reducing dwell 
times for certain fleets. 

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
Profitable, sustainable growth means having a modern long-term 
vision for this historic railroad. Our focus remains on delivering 
value for shareholders and customers as we transition to a low-
carbon economy in North America. Times of change or disruption 
provide opportunities for leadership through both example and 
action. Across the supply chain, we are taking action when it 
comes to making a positive impact on the environment. 

This past year, we released our first public statement on climate 
change, supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement and 
the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate 
Change, which seek to limit global temperature rise to well 
below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. We are backing that 
statement up with innovative initiatives such as building a solar 
panel farm at our headquarters in Calgary. This will be one 
of the largest private solar operations in the province and is 
expected to generate more power than consumed annually at 
our headquarters by early 2021. We are also developing North 
America’s first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive. CP’s 
Hydrogen Locomotive Program will retrofit a line-haul locomotive 
with hydrogen fuel cells and battery technology to drive the 
locomotive’s electric traction motors. 

As our volumes and market presence grow, more truck traffic is 
removed from the roads. Estimates show that our new transload 
facility with Maersk will remove up to 100,000 trucks from 
Metro Vancouver’s congested roads and reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions by over 4,000 tons per year. This is good for our 
business and for the environment. Rail produces 75 percent less 
greenhouse gas emissions than trucks and is four times more fuel 
efficient. CP’s fuel efficiency exceeds the North American Class 1  

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  21

railway average – since 1990, we’ve improved our fuel use by 
more than 40 percent. 

Our world-class railroaders will continue to develop and 
implement solutions that drive safety, sustainability, reliability 
and efficiency. 

DEVELOPING PEOPLE
The challenges presented by the pandemic emphasized the fact 
that our people are our greatest asset. That is why, instead of 
pulling back, we ramped up training and leadership development 
throughout the year so that our railroaders can continue to 
grow. The past year came with unexpected and extraordinary 
opportunities for the CP family at all levels and in all areas of the 
business to step up and become even stronger.

We also embraced the opportunity to review and improve 
our diversity initiatives, and took further steps to help ensure 
we are attracting, hiring, retaining and nurturing a workforce 
where all employees have equal opportunities to succeed and 
advance. Three new diversity councils – racial, Indigenous and 

gender – were established to help ensure we consider diversity 
and inclusion when we make decisions, provide feedback on 
corporate direction and promote initiatives that relate to each 
council’s area of focus. 

I am deeply grateful to our CP family for their resilience and 
effort throughout a historically challenging year, and remain 
optimistic about what lies ahead. We know that our PSR 
operating model works in good times; this year has further 
demonstrated how well it works when times get tough. 

Individually and collectively, we are CP Proud!

Sincerely, 

KEITH CREEL
President and CEO

22  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

LETTER FROM  
THE CHAIR

This past year was extraordinary in so many ways. As essential 
workers, the CP team continued to deliver safely and efficiently in 
the face of COVID-19. 2020 highlighted CP’s collective commitment 
and the depth and breadth of the team, led by President and CEO 
Keith Creel. It was also a year where CP focused intensely on 
sustainability and its commitment to environmental, social and 
governance stewardship.

ENVIRONMENTAL 
Despite the ongoing challenges of 2020, CP grew stronger and 
continued to operate safely and sustainably. In July, CP released 
its first public statement on climate change. The statement 
acknowledges the effects of rising global temperatures and lays  
out CP’s commitment to ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts.  
In 2021, CP will establish a science-based emissions reduction 
target to guide its climate action. 

Railroads have a powerful role to play as we transition to a 
less carbon-intensive economy. This past year, CP forged new 
relationships with other transportation industry sustainability leaders 
like Maersk. The relationship with Maersk will see thousands of 
trucks come off publicly funded highways across the Lower Mainland 
of British Columbia. This type of forward-thinking collaboration is a 
win for CP, the supply chain and the environment. 

Because of its ongoing collaborative efforts and commitment,  
CP saw improvements in its scoring by major sustainability ratings 
firms. In November, CP was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability 
Index North America, and in December, the CDP recognized CP for 
leadership on climate action with an A- score on its 2020 climate 
change disclosure. This past year CP was also named to Corporate 
Knights’ 2020 list of Canada’s best corporate citizens and the 
World Finance Sustainability Awards 2020 named the company a 
sustainability leader in the transportation industry.

SAFETY AND SOCIAL
In 2020, CP did not depart from its commitment to safety, leading 
the North American industry for a 15th straight year with the lowest 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-reportable train accident 
frequency. CP continues to focus on safety, which is an ongoing 
journey, not a destination. 

CP also continued to invest in its communities, despite the 
pandemic. These investments included a US$1 million donation to 
one national and two Minneapolis-based organizations. In 2020, CP 
Has Heart helped raise nearly $2.5 million for cardiac causes across 
the CP network, bringing the total since 2014 to $23 million, and CP 
ran a virtual Holiday Train, donating $1.24 million to 201 food banks 
in communities that ordinarily host in-person events. Since 1999, the 
Holiday Train has helped raise $19 million and collected 4.8 million 
pounds for food banks in the communities in which CP operates. 

GOVERNANCE
In January 2020, the Board enacted a diversity policy and we 
continue to focus on diversity, especially as we look at Board 
renewal. Our Board is currently made up of 45 percent women with 
one member who is a visible minority. Women chair two of our four 
standing committees, and one of those committees is chaired by our 
visible minority Board member. We believe this diversity makes us 
stronger and better equipped to serve CP shareholders.

In 2020, CP ranked second in the Globe and Mail’s annual 
comprehensive ranking of Canada’s corporate boards, known as 
“Board Games”, in part due to our strong focus on governance. 

2020 was also the first time in our nearly 140-year history we 
hosted a virtual Annual General Meeting. To put it simply, it was 
a year like no other. Thanks to the CP family, customers and 
shareholders, the company persevered and prospered. 

While it was not the first time this management team has faced 
challenges, it served as another reminder of the resilience of  
their leadership and of the sustainable nature of this historic,  
proud company.

Sincerely,

ISABELLE COURVILLE
Chair of the Board

CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  23

CANADIAN PACIFIC 
RAILWAY LIMITED

FORM 
10-K

24  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LIMITED
FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1.

Business

Item 1A.             Risk Factors

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

Item 2.

Item 3.

Item 4.

Properties

Legal Proceedings

Mine Safety Disclosures

Information about our Executive Officers

PART II

Item 5.

Item 6.

Item 7.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Selected Financial Data

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8.

Item 9.

Item 9A.

Item 9B.

PART III

Item 10.

Item 11.

Item 12.

Item 13.

Item 14.

PART IV

Item 15.

Item 16.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Controls and Procedures

Other Information

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Executive Compensation

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule

Form 10-K Summary

Signatures

Page

26

44

47

48

52

52

53

56

58

59

99

100

146

146

148

150

150

150

150

150

152

158

159

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  25

PART I

 
26  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Company Overview
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CPRL”), together with its subsidiaries (“CP” or the “Company”), owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in 
Canada  and  the  United  States  (“U.S.”).  CP  provides  rail  and  intermodal  transportation  services  over  a  network  of  approximately 13,000  miles,  directly 
serving  the  principal  business  centres  of Canada  from  Montréal,  Québec,  to  Vancouver,  British  Columbia  ("B.C."),  and  the  U.S.  Northeast  and  Midwest 
regions. CP’s railway network feeds directly into the U.S. heartland from the East and West coasts. Agreements with other carriers extend the Company's 
market  reach  in  Canada,  through  the  U.S.  and  into  Mexico.  CP  transports  bulk  commodities,  merchandise  freight  and  intermodal  traffic.  For  additional 
information regarding CP's network and geographical locations, refer to Item 2. Properties. 

CPRL  was  incorporated  on June  22,  2001,  under  the  Canada  Business  Corporations  Act  and  controls  and  owns  all  of  the  Common  Shares  of  Canadian 
Pacific Railway Company (“CPRC”), which was incorporated in 1881 by Letters Patent pursuant to an Act of the Parliament of Canada. CPRL's registered, 
executive and corporate head office is located at 7550 Ogden Dale Road S.E., Calgary, Alberta T2C 4X9. CPRL's Common Shares (the "Common Shares") 
are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CP”.

For purposes of this annual report, all references herein to “CP”, “the Company”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to CPRL, CPRL and its subsidiaries, CPRL and 
one or more of its subsidiaries, or one or more of CPRL's subsidiaries, as the context may require. All references to currency amounts included in this annual 
report, including the Consolidated Financial Statements, are in Canadian dollars unless specifically noted otherwise.

Strategy
CP is continuing the journey to become the best railway in North America, with a culture of responsibility and accountability focused on five key foundations:

•

•

•

•

•

Provide Service: Providing efficient and consistent transportation solutions for the Company’s customers. “Doing what we say we are going to do” is 
what drives CP in providing a reliable product with a lower cost operating model. Centralized planning aligned with local execution is bringing the 
Company closer to the customer and accelerating decision-making. 

Control  Costs:  Controlling  and  removing  unnecessary  costs  from  the  organization,  eliminating  bureaucracy  and  continuing  to  identify  productivity 
enhancements are the keys to success. 

Optimize  Assets:  Through  longer  and  heavier  trains,  and  improved  asset  utilization,  the  Company  is  moving  increased  volumes  with  fewer 
locomotives and cars while unlocking capacity for future growth potential.  

Operate Safely: Each year, CP safely moves millions of carloads of freight across North America while ensuring the safety of our people and the 
communities  through  which  we  operate.  Safety  is  never  to  be  compromised.  CP  strives  for  continuous  implementation  of  state-of-the-art  safety 
technology, safety management systems, and safety culture with our employees to ensure safe, efficient operations across our network.

Develop People: CP recognizes that none of the other foundations can be achieved without its people. Every CP employee is a railroader and the 
Company  has  established  a  culture  focused  on  our  values  of  accountability,  diversity  and  pride,  in  everything  we  do.  Coaching  and  mentoring  all 
employees into becoming leaders will continue to drive CP forward.

Starting  in  2012,  CP  transformed  its  operations  by  investing  in  the  network  and  executing  a  precision  scheduled  railroading  model  that  lowers  costs, 
optimizes assets, and provides better, more competitive service. 

Today, we continue to apply our long-term strategy: leverage our lower cost base, network strengths and improved service to drive sustainable, profitable 
growth. While the accomplishments during the turnaround were tremendous, CP’s journey to become North America’s best-performing rail carrier is far from 
over. As a Company, we will remain focused on our next level of service, productivity, and innovation to continue to generate sustainable value for our 
customers and results for our shareholders. 

Business Developments
COVID-19 pandemic
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer demand resulted in lower volumes in the following lines of business: Energy, chemicals and plastics, 
Metals, minerals and consumer products, and Automotive. 

As COVID-19 continued to spread throughout Canada and the United States during 2020, CP conducted business as usual, to the greatest extent possible in 
the circumstances, while continuing to apply the principles of precision scheduled railroading to respond to changes in demand. The Company is continuing 
to  take  a  variety  of  measures  to  ensure  the  availability  of  its  transportation  services  throughout  our  network,  promote  the  safety  and  security  of  our 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  27

employees, and support the communities in which we operate. Certain modifications the Company has made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include 
but are not limited to: implementing periods of working at home for certain office employees; restricting employee business travel; implementing post-travel 
employee  screening;  strengthening  clean  workplace  practices;  reinforcing  socially  responsible  sick  leave  recommendations;  limiting  visitor  and  third-party 
access  to  Company  facilities;  launching  internal  COVID-19  resources  for  employees;  creating  a  pandemic  response  team  comprised  of  employees  and 
members of senior management; and encouraging telephonic and video conference-based meetings along with other hygiene and social distancing practices 
recommended by health authorities including Health Canada, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization. CP 
supported employees by working with labour unions to shorten recall times to be prepared for demand increases while supplementing employment insurance 
payments and maintaining health benefit coverage for employees during that period. CP also awarded a bonus for our frontline employees who worked or 
were  laid  off  in  2020  due  to  the  COVID-19  pandemic.  CP  is  responding  to  this  crisis  through  measures  designed  to  protect  our  workforce  and  prevent 
disruptions  to  the  central  role  the  Company's  operations  provide  to  the  North  American  economy.  CP's  service  is  deemed  essential  as  part  of  the 
transportation industry. We believe that we remain well positioned to adjust to market conditions to assist our customers as they work to manage their 
supply chain and inventories. 

Preventative measures that serve to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19 remain in effect, including modifying our workspace to implement physical 
distancing measures, and continuously reevaluating our efforts with safety as a top priority. 

In addition to the above, we have also observed many other companies, including companies in our industry, taking precautionary and preemptive actions to 
address the COVID-19 pandemic, and companies may take further actions that alter their normal business operations. We will continue to actively monitor 
the situation and may take further actions that could materially alter our business operations as may be required or recommended by federal, provincial, 
state  or  local  authorities,  or  that  we  determine  are  in  the  best  interests  of  our  employees,  customers,  shareholders,  partners,  suppliers,  and  other 
stakeholders. 

Additional  information  concerning  the  impact  COVID-19  may  have  to  our  future  business  and  results  of  operations  is  provided  in  Part  I,  Item  1A.  Risk 
Factors.

Other current business developments
On January 27, 2021, CP announced its Board of Directors will seek shareholder and regulatory approval for the implementation of a five-for-one share split 
of CP's issued and outstanding common shares. The share split is subject to the approval of shareholders at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders 
scheduled to be held on April 21, 2021 and to the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). CP also 
announced a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") commencing January 29, 2021, to purchase up to 3.33 million Common Shares in the open market for 
cancellation before January 28, 2022.

On December 22, 2020, CP acquired full ownership of the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership ("DRTP"), which owns a 1.6-mile rail tunnel linking Windsor, 
Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. The purchase price for the transaction was approximately $398 million, net of cash acquired. CP previously owned a 16.5 
percent  interest  in  the  partnership  and  was  its  designated  operator.  The  acquisition  will  reduce  CP’s  operating  costs  related  to  movements  through  the 
tunnel while further integrating the eastern part of our network. For additional information regarding this acquisition, refer to Item 8. Financial Statements 
and Supplementary Data, Note 10 Business combination.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, CP announced its plan to develop North America's first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive. CP's Hydrogen Locomotive 
Program  will  retrofit  a  line-haul  locomotive  with  hydrogen  fuel  cells  and  battery  technology  to  drive  the  locomotive's  electric  traction  motors.  Once 
operational, CP will conduct rail service trials and qualification testing to evaluate the technology's readiness for the freight-rail sector. The work builds on 
CP's  prior  experience  with  testing  low-emitting  locomotive  technologies,  including  biofuels,  compressed  natural  gas  and  battery-powered  solutions.  This 
project aligns with CP's focus on finding innovative solutions to support a sustainable future.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, CP received a leadership level score of A- from CDP for its 2020 climate change disclosure. This accomplishment represented a 
significant milestone in CP's journey to integrate climate-related risks and opportunities into the company's sustainability programs and reporting practices. 
CDP  is  an  internationally  recognized  non-profit  organization  that  runs  a  global  environmental  disclosure  platform  assessing  companies  on  their  climate-
related performance and transparency.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, CP was added to the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America. The index measures corporate sustainability leaders' 
performance through a comprehensive assessment of economic, environmental and social criteria. The top companies were selected from a record number of 
participants.

In  the  third  quarter  of  2020,  CP  released  its  first  public  statement  on  climate  change,  acknowledging  the  effects  of  rising  global  temperatures  and  our 
commitment to ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts. The statement supports the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Pan-Canadian Framework on 
Clean Growth and Climate Change, which seek to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. In support of this initiative, we 
plan to establish a science-based emissions reduction target to guide our climate action. 

 
28  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

On July 21, 2020, CP increased its quarterly dividend to $0.95 per share on the outstanding Common Shares, from $0.83 per share from the prior quarter.

In the second quarter of 2020, CP completed its previously announced acquisition of Central Maine and Québec Railway U.S. Inc. ("CMQ U.S."). Together 
with the December 30, 2019 completion of the acquisition of Central Maine & Québec Railway Canada Inc. ("CMQ Canada"), the acquisition of CMQ U.S. 
completed CP's purchase of the entire Central Maine & Québec Railway ("CMQ") network originally announced on November 20, 2019, for approximately 
$174 million (U.S. $133 million). CMQ U.S. and CMQ Canada will continue to operate in the U.S. and in Canada respectively as subsidiaries of CP. CMQ 
owns  rail  lines  primarily  in  Québec  and  Maine,  stretching  approximately  481  miles,  and  primarily  moving  forest  products,  refined  petroleum  products, 
chemicals  and  plastics.  This  acquisition  provides  CP  with  strategic  access  into  the  U.S.  Northeast  and  Atlantic  Canada.  The  transaction  provides  CP 
customers with seamless, safe and efficient access to ports at Searsport, Maine, and to Saint John, New Brunswick, via Eastern Maine Railway Company and 
New Brunswick Southern Railway. With the CMQ acquisition, CP is now a 13,000-mile rail network connecting the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast across 
six Canadian provinces and 11 U.S. states. For additional information regarding this acquisition, refer to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary 
Data, Note 10 Business combination.

On April 21, 2020, the Company held its annual meeting of shareholders, which was conducted via a virtual only format by live webcast online for the first 
time. All 11 director nominees were elected.

Prior Developments
On December 17, 2019, the Company announced an NCIB, commencing December 20, 2019, to purchase up to 4.80 million Common Shares in the open 
market for cancellation before December 19, 2020.

During  the  first  quarter  of 2019,  the  Company  experienced  severe  winter  operating  conditions  and  an  increase  in  the  frequency  and  severity  of  casualty 
incidents and derailments. As a result, the Company incurred significant costs to manage severe weather conditions, as well as direct casualty costs, and 
higher operating costs. During this period and the subsequent network recovery the Company also experienced losses and deferrals of potential revenues.

Operations
The Company operates in only one operating segment: rail transportation. Although the Company provides a breakdown of revenue by business line, the 
overall  financial  and  operational  performance  of  the  Company  is  analyzed  as  one  segment  due  to  the  integrated  nature  of  the  rail  network.  Additional 
information  regarding  the  Company's  business  and  operations,  including  revenue  and  financial  information,  and  information  by  geographic  location  is 
presented  in  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations,  and  Item  8.  Financial  Statements  and 
Supplementary Data, Note 27 Segmented and geographic information.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  29

Lines of Business
The Company transports bulk commodities, merchandise freight, and intermodal traffic. Bulk commodities, which typically move in large volumes across long 
distances, include Grain, Coal, Potash, and Fertilizers and sulphur. Merchandise freight consists of industrial and consumer products, such as Energy, chemicals 
and plastics, Metals, minerals and consumer products, Forest products, and Automotive. Intermodal traffic consists largely of retail goods in overseas containers 
that can be transported by train, ship and truck, and in domestic containers and trailers that can be moved by train and truck.

The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from transporting freight. The following chart shows the Company's Freight revenue by each line of business in 
2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Freight Revenues

2019 Freight Revenues

2018 Freight Revenues

Grain: 24%Coal: 8%Potash: 7%Fertilizers & sulphur:4%Forest products: 4%Energy,chemicals& plastics: 20%Metals, minerals& consumer products:8%Automotive:4%Intermodal: 21%BulkMerchandiseIntermodalGrain: 22%Coal: 9%Potash: 6%Fertilizers &sulphur: 3%Forestproducts: 4%Energy, chemicals &plastics: 20%Metals,minerals& consumerproducts: 10%Automotive:5%Intermodal: 21%Grain: 22%Coal: 9%Potash: 7%Fertilizers &sulphur: 3%Forest products: 4%Energy, chemicals &plastics: 17%Metals, minerals& consumerproducts: 11%Automotive:5%Intermodal: 22% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

In 2020, the Company generated Freight revenues totalling $7,541 million ($7,613 million in 2019 and $7,152 million in 2018). The following charts compare 
the percentage of the Company’s total Freight revenues derived from each of the three major business lines in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Freight Revenues

2019 Freight Revenues

2018 Freight Revenues

BULK
The Company’s Bulk business represented approximately 43% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Bulk freight revenues by commodity business in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Bulk Revenues

(43% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Bulk Revenues

(40% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Bulk Revenues

(41% of Freight Revenues)

Bulk: 43%Merchandise: 36%Intermodal: 21%Bulk: 40%Merchandise: 39%Intermodal: 21%Bulk: 41%Merchandise: 37%Intermodal: 22%Grain: 58%Coal: 18%Potash: 15%Fertilizers& sulphur: 9%Grain: 55%Coal: 22%Potash: 15%Fertilizers& sulphur: 8%Grain: 53%Coal: 23%Potash: 16%Fertilizers& sulphur: 8% 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  31

Grain
The Company’s Grain business represented approximately 58% of Bulk revenues, and was 24% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Grain freight revenues generated from Canadian and U.S. shipments in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Grain Revenues
(58% of Bulk Revenues; 24% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Grain Revenues
(55% of Bulk Revenues; 22% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Grain Revenues
(53% of Bulk Revenues; 22% of Freight Revenues)

CP's Grain network is unique among railways in North America as it is strategically positioned in the heart of grain-producing regions of western Canada and 
the  Northern  Plains  of  the  U.S.  Canadian  grain  transported  by  CP  consists  of  both  whole  grains,  such  as  wheat,  canola,  durum,  pulses,  and  barley,  and 
processed products such as oils, meals, and malt. This business is centred in the Canadian Prairies (Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba), with grain shipped 
primarily west to the Port of Vancouver, and east to the Port of Thunder Bay for export. Grain is also shipped to the U.S., to eastern Canada, and to Mexico for 
domestic consumption.

Canadian grain includes a division of business that is regulated by the Canadian government through the Canada Transportation Act (“CTA”). This regulated 
business is subject to a maximum revenue entitlement (“MRE”). Under the CTA, railways can set their own rates for individual movements. However, the MRE 
governs  aggregate  revenue  earned  by  the  railway  based  on  a  formula  that  factors  in  the  total  volumes,  length  of  haul,  average  revenue  per  ton,  and 
inflationary adjustments. The regulation applies to western Canadian export grain shipments to the ports of Vancouver and Thunder Bay.

U.S. grain transported by CP consists of both whole grains, such as wheat, soybeans, corn and durum, and processed products such as feed, meals and flour. 
This business is centred in the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa. Grain destined for domestic consumption moves east via Chicago, to the U.S. 
Northeast or is interchanged with other carriers to the U.S. Pacific Northwest and U.S. Southeast. In partnership with other railways, CP also moves grain to 
export terminals in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and the Gulf of Mexico. Export grain traffic is also shipped to ports at Superior and Duluth.

Canadianregulated:54%Canadian non-regulated: 18%U.S.domestic:19%U.S. export: 9%Canadianregulated:50%Canadian non-regulated: 19%U.S.domestic:23%U.S. export: 8%Canadianregulated:47%Canadian non-regulated: 21%U.S.domestic:22%U.S. export: 10% 
32  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Coal
The Company’s Coal business represented approximately 18% of Bulk revenues, and was 8% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Coal freight revenues generated from Canadian and U.S. shipments in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Coal Revenues

2019 Coal Revenues

2018 Coal Revenues

(18% of Bulk Revenues; 8% of Freight Revenues)

(22% of Bulk Revenues; 9% of Freight Revenues)

(23% of Bulk Revenues; 9% of Freight Revenues)

In Canada, CP handles mostly metallurgical coal destined for export for use in the steelmaking process. CP’s Canadian coal traffic originates mainly from Teck 
Resources Limited’s mines in southeastern B.C. CP moves coal west from these mines to port terminals for export to world markets (Pacific Rim, Europe and 
South America), and east for the U.S. Midwest markets.

In the U.S., CP moves primarily thermal coal from connecting railways, serving the thermal coal fields in the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, 
which is delivered to power-generating facilities in the U.S. Midwest. 

Potash
The Company's Potash business represented approximately 15% of Bulk revenues, and was 7% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Potash freight revenues generated from export and domestic potash shipments in 2020, 2019 
and 2018:

2020 Potash Revenues

2019 Potash Revenues

2018 Potash Revenues

(15% of Bulk Revenues; 7% of Freight Revenues)

(15% of Bulk Revenues; 6% of Freight Revenues)

(16% of Bulk Revenues; 7% of Freight Revenues)

The  Company’s  Potash  traffic  moves  mainly  from  Saskatchewan  to  offshore  markets  through  the  ports  of  Vancouver,  Portland,  and  Thunder  Bay,  and  to 
markets in the U.S. All potash shipments for export beyond Canada and the U.S. are marketed by Canpotex Limited and K+S Potash Canada. Canpotex is an 

Canadian: 89%U.S.:11%Canadian: 90%U.S.:10%Canadian: 90%U.S.:10%Domestic:34%Export:66%Domestic:35%Export:65%Domestic:38%Export:62%  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  33

export company owned in equal shares by Nutrien Ltd. and The Mosaic Company. Independently, these producers move domestic potash with CP primarily to 
the U.S. Midwest for local application.

Fertilizers and Sulphur
The Company's Fertilizers and sulphur business represented approximately 9% of Bulk revenues, and was 4% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Fertilizers and sulphur freight revenues generated from dry fertilizers, wet fertilizers and sulphur 
transportation in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Fertilizers & Sulphur Revenues
(9% of Bulk Revenues; 4% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Fertilizers & Sulphur Revenues
(8% of Bulk Revenues; 3% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Fertilizers & Sulphur Revenues
(8% of Bulk Revenues; 3% of Freight Revenues)

Dry  fertilizers  include:  phosphate,  urea,  ammonium  sulphate,  and  nitrate.  Wet  fertilizers  are  primarily  anhydrous  ammonia.  More  than  half  of  CP's  fertilizer 
shipments originate from production facilities in Alberta, where abundant sources of natural gas and other chemicals provide feedstock for fertilizer production.

Most  sulphur  is  produced  in  Alberta  as  a  byproduct  of  processing  sour  natural  gas,  refining  crude  oil,  and  upgrading  bitumen  produced  in  the  Alberta  oil 
sands. Sulphur is a raw material used primarily in the manufacturing of sulphuric acid, which is used most extensively in the production of phosphate fertilizers. 

MERCHANDISE
The Company’s Merchandise business represented approximately 36% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Merchandise freight revenue by commodity business in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Merchandise Revenues

2019 Merchandise Revenues

2018 Merchandise Revenues

(36% of Freight Revenues)

(39% of Freight Revenues)

(37% of Freight Revenues)

Wetfertilizers:37%Dry fertilizers:44%Sulphur:19%Wetfertilizers:44%Dry fertilizers:37%Sulphur:19%Wetfertilizers:34%Dry fertilizers:43%Sulphur:23%Forestproducts: 12%Energy,chemicals &plastics:54%Metals,minerals &consumerproducts:22%Automotive:12%Forestproducts: 10%Energy,chemicals &plastics:52%Metals,minerals &consumerproducts:26%Automotive:12%Forestproducts: 11%Energy,chemicals &plastics:47%Metals,minerals &consumerproducts:30%Automotive:12% 
34  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Merchandise products move in both mixed freight and unit trains, in a variety of car types. Service involves delivering products to many different customers and 
destinations. In addition to traditional rail service, CP moves merchandise traffic through a network of truck-rail transload facilities, expanding the reach of CP's 
network to non-rail served facilities.

Forest Products
The Company’s Forest products business represented approximately 12% of Merchandise revenues, and was 4% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The  following  charts  compare  the  percentage  of  the  Company's  Forest  products  freight  revenues  generated  from  pulp  and  paper  (wood  pulp,  paperboard, 
newsprint, and paper), lumber and panel, and other shipments in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Forest Products Revenues
(12% of Merchandise Revenues; 
4% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Forest Products Revenues
(10% of Merchandise Revenues; 
4% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Forest Products Revenues
(11% of Merchandise Revenues; 
4% of Freight Revenues)

Forest products traffic includes pulp and paper, and lumber and panel shipped from key producing areas in B.C., Ontario, Québec, Alberta, and New Brunswick, 
to destinations throughout North America, including Vancouver and Montreal to export markets.

Energy, Chemicals and Plastics
The Company’s Energy, chemicals and plastics business represented approximately 54% of Merchandise revenues, and was 20% of total Freight revenues in 
2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Energy, chemicals and plastics freight revenues generated from petroleum products, crude, 
chemicals, biofuels, and plastics shipments in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Energy, Chemicals & Plastics 
Revenues
(54% of Merchandise Revenues; 
20% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Energy, Chemicals & Plastics 
Revenues
(52% of Merchandise Revenues; 
20% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Energy, Chemicals & Plastics 
Revenues
(47% of Merchandise Revenues; 
17% of Freight Revenues)

Lumber &panel:42%Pulp &paper: 55%Other: 3%Lumber &panel: 40%Pulp &paper: 57%Other: 3%Lumber &panel: 41%Pulp &paper: 55%Other: 4%Petroleumproducts:34%Biofuels:17%Chemicals:17%Plastics:11%Crude:21%Petroleumproducts:31%Biofuels:15%Chemicals:15%Plastics:8%Crude:31%Petroleumproducts:32%Biofuels:16%Chemicals:17%Plastics:8%Crude:27%  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  35

Petroleum products consist of commodities such as liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG"), fuel oil, asphalt, gasoline, condensate (diluent), and lubricant oils. The 
majority of the Company’s western Canadian energy traffic originates in the Alberta Industrial Heartland, Canada's largest hydrocarbon processing region, and 
Saskatchewan.  The  Bakken  formation  region  in  Saskatchewan  and  North  Dakota  is  another  source  of  condensate,  LPG,  and  other  refined  petroleum. 
Interchanges with several rail interline partners give the Company access to destination and export markets in the U.S. West Coast, the U.S. Midwest, and 
Mexico, as well as the Texas and Louisiana petrochemical corridor and port connections.

Crude moves from production facilities throughout Alberta, North Dakota, and Saskatchewan. CP provides efficient routes to refining markets in the Gulf Coast, 
the U.S. Northeast, and the West Coast through connections with our railway partners.

The  Company’s  chemical  traffic  includes  products  such  as  ethylene  glycol,  caustic  soda,  sulphuric  acid,  methanol,  styrene,  and  soda  ash.  These  shipments 
originate from western Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Midwest, and eastern Canada, and move to end markets in Canada, the U.S. and overseas.

CP's biofuels traffic originates mainly from facilities in the U.S. Midwest, shipping primarily to destinations in the U.S. Northeast. 

The most commonly shipped plastics products are polyethylene and polypropylene. Approximately half of the Company’s plastics traffic originates in central and 
northern Alberta and moves to various North American destinations.

Metals, Minerals and Consumer Products
The  Company’s  Metals,  minerals  and  consumer  products  business  represented  approximately 22%  of  Merchandise  revenues,  and  was  8%  of  total  Freight 
revenues in 2020.

The  following  charts  compare  the  percentage  of  the  Company's  Metals,  minerals  and  consumer  products  freight  revenues  generated  from  aggregates 
(excluding frac sand), steel, frac sand, food and consumer products, and non-ferrous metals transportation in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Metals, Minerals & Consumer 
Products Revenues
(22% of Merchandise Revenues; 
8% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Metals, Minerals & Consumer 
Products Revenues
(26% of Merchandise Revenues; 
10% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Metals, Minerals & Consumer 
Products Revenues
(30% of Merchandise Revenues; 
11% of Freight Revenues)

Aggregate products include coarse particulate and composite materials such as cement, limestone, clay, and gypsum. Cement is the leading commodity within 
aggregates, and is shipped directly from production facilities in Alberta, Québec, and Ontario to energy and construction projects in the U.S. Midwest, Canadian 
Prairies, and the U.S. Pacific Northwest.

The majority of frac sand originates at mines located along the Company’s network in Wisconsin and moves to the Bakken, Marcellus Shale, Permian Basin, 
and other shale formations across North America.

CP  transports  steel  in  various  forms  from  mills in  the  U.S.  Midwest,  Ontario,  and  Saskatchewan  to  a  variety  of  industrial  users.  The  Company  carries  base 
metals such as aluminum, zinc, and lead. CP also moves ores from mines to smelters and refineries for processing, and the processed metal to automobile and 
consumer products manufacturers.

Food,  consumer,  and  other  products  traffic  consists  of  a  diverse  mix  of  goods,  including  food  products,  railway  equipment,  building  materials,  and  waste 
products.

Frac sand: 13%Steel: 29%Food,consumer &other: 19%Aggregates(excl. fracsand): 33%Mines &metals: 6%Frac sand: 26%Steel: 26%Food,consumer &other: 15%Aggregates(excl. fracsand): 29%Mines &metals: 4%Frac sand: 30%Steel: 27%Food,consumer& other:14%Aggregates(excl. fracsand): 25%Mines &metals: 4% 
36  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Automotive
The Company’s Automotive business represented approximately 12% of Merchandise revenues, and was 4% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Automotive freight revenues generated by movements of finished vehicles from Canadian, U.S., 
overseas, and Mexican origins, machinery, and parts and other in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Automotive Revenues
(12% of Merchandise Revenues; 
4% of Freight Revenues)

2019 Automotive Revenues
(12% of Merchandise Revenues; 
5% of Freight Revenues)

2018 Automotive Revenues
(12% of Merchandise Revenues; 
5% of Freight Revenues)

CP’s  Automotive  portfolio  consists  of  four  finished  vehicle  traffic  components:  Canadian-produced  vehicles  that  ship  to  the  U.S.  from  Ontario  production 
facilities; U.S.-produced vehicles that ship within the U.S. as well as cross border shipments to Canadian markets; vehicles from overseas that move through the 
Port of Vancouver to eastern Canadian markets; and Mexican-produced vehicles that ship to the U.S. and Canada. In addition to finished vehicles, CP ships 
machinery, pre-owned vehicles, and automotive parts. A comprehensive network of automotive compounds is utilized to facilitate final delivery of vehicles to 
dealers throughout Canada and in the U.S.

INTERMODAL
The Company’s Intermodal business represented approximately 21% of total Freight revenues in 2020.

The following charts compare the percentage of the Company's Intermodal freight revenues generated from Canada, ports, cross border transportation, other 
international, and U.S. in 2020, 2019 and 2018:

2020 Intermodal Revenues

2019 Intermodal Revenues

2018 Intermodal Revenues

(21% of Freight Revenues)

(21% of Freight Revenues)

(22% of Freight Revenues)

Domestic intermodal freight consists primarily of manufactured consumer products that are predominantly moved in 53-foot containers within North America. 
International intermodal freight moves in marine containers to and from ports and North American inland markets.

Canada:52%U.S.: 25%Mexico:5%Overseas:15%Machinery: 1%Parts &other:2%Canada:52%U.S.: 26%Mexico:4%Overseas:12%Machinery: 4%Parts &other:2%Canada:56%U.S.: 25%Mexico:4%Overseas: 9%Machinery: 4%Parts &other:2%DomesticCanada:53%Domestic crossborder and U.S.:5%Ports: 40%Otherinternational:2%DomesticCanada:52%Domestic crossborder and U.S.:5%Ports: 41%Otherinternational:2%DomesticCanada:50%Domestic crossborder and U.S.:8%Ports: 40%Otherinternational:2%  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  37

CP’s  domestic  intermodal  business  moves  goods  from  a  broad  spectrum  of  industries  including  wholesale,  retail,  food,  forest  products,  and  various  other 
commodities. Key service factors in domestic intermodal include consistent on-time delivery, the ability to provide door-to-door service, and the availability of 
value-added services. The majority of the Company’s domestic intermodal business originates in Canada, where CP markets its services directly to retailers and 
manufacturers, providing complete door-to-door service and maintaining direct relationships with its customers. In the U.S., the Company’s service is delivered 
mainly through intermodal marketing companies.

CP’s  international  intermodal  business  consists  primarily  of  containerized  traffic  moving  between  the  ports  of  Vancouver,  Montréal,  Saint  John,  and  inland 
points across Canada and the U.S. Import traffic from the Port of Vancouver is mainly long-haul business destined for eastern Canada and the U.S. Midwest 
and Northeast. CP works closely with the Port of Montréal, a major year-round East Coast gateway to Europe, to serve markets primarily in the U.S. Midwest 
and Canada. CP's access to the Port of Saint John provides the fastest rail service from the east coast to the Canadian and U.S. Midwest markets for import and 
export cargo from Europe, South America, and Asia.

Fuel Cost Adjustment Program
The  short-term  volatility  in  fuel  prices  may  adversely  or  positively  impact  revenues.  CP  employs  a  fuel  cost  adjustment  program  designed  to  respond  to 
fluctuations in fuel prices and help reduce volatility to changing fuel prices. Fuel surcharge revenues are earned on individual shipments and are based primarily 
on the price of On-Highway Diesel. As such, fuel surcharge revenues are a function of freight volumes and fuel prices. Fuel surcharge revenues accounted for 
approximately 4% of the Company's Freight revenues in 2020. The Company is also subject to carbon taxation systems and levies in some jurisdictions in which 
it operates, the costs of which are passed on to the shipper. As such, fuel surcharge revenue includes carbon taxes and levy recoveries.

Freight revenues included fuel surcharge revenues of $297 million in 2020, a decrease of $167 million, or 36%, from $464 million in the same period of 2019. 
This decrease was primarily due to lower fuel prices. This decrease was partially offset by the timing of recoveries from CP's fuel cost adjustment program and 
increased carbon tax recoveries.

Non-freight Revenues
Non-freight  revenues  accounted  for  approximately 2%  of  the  Company’s  Total  revenues  in  2020.  Non-freight  revenues  are  generated  from  leasing  certain 
assets; other arrangements, including logistical services and contracts with passenger service operators; and switching fees.

Significant Customers
For each of the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, the company's revenues and operations were not dependent on any major customers. 

Competition
The Company is in the ground transportation and logistics business. The Company sees competition in this segment from other railways, motor carriers, ship 
and barge operators, and pipelines. Depending on the specific market, competing railways, motor carriers, and other competitors may exert pressure on price 
and  service  levels.  The  Company  continually  evaluates  the  market  needs  and  the  competition.  The  Company  responds  as  it  deems  appropriate  to  provide 
competitive services to the market.  This includes developing new offerings such as transload facilities, new train services, and other logistics services.

Seasonality
Volumes  and  revenues  from  certain  goods  are  stronger  during  different  periods  of  the  year.  First-quarter  revenues  are  typically  lower  mainly  due  to  winter 
weather  conditions,  closure  of  the  Port  of  Thunder  Bay,  and  reduced  transportation  of  retail  goods.  Second  and  third  quarter  revenues  generally  improve 
compared  to  the  first  quarter,  as  fertilizer  volumes  are  typically  highest  during  the  second  quarter  and  demand  for  construction-related  goods  is  generally 
highest in the third quarter. Revenues are typically strongest in the fourth quarter, primarily as a result of the transportation of grain after the harvest, fall 
fertilizer  programs,  and  increased  demand  for  retail  goods  moved  by  rail.  Operating  income  is  also  affected  by  seasonal  fluctuations.  Operating  income  is 
typically lowest in the first quarter, due to lower freight revenue and higher operating costs associated with winter conditions.

 
38  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Government Regulation
The  Company’s  railway  operations  are  subject  to  extensive  federal  laws,  regulations,  and  rules  in  both  Canada  and  the  U.S.,  which  directly  affect  how 
operations and business activities are managed.

Economic Regulation - Canada
The Company’s rail operations in Canada are subject to economic regulation by the Canadian Transportation Agency (the "Agency”) as delegated by the 
Canada Transportation Act. The Canada Transportation Act indirectly regulates rates by providing remedies  for  freight  rates,  including  ancillary  charges,  
remedies    for    level    of    service,    long-haul  interswitching    rates,    and    regulated  interswitching  rates  in  Canada.  The  CTA  regulates  the MRE  for  the 
movement of export grain, construction and abandonment of railways, commuter and passenger access, and noise and vibration-related disputes. 

In 2018, the Transportation Modernization Act became law. The legislation amended the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act ("RSA"), 
among other Acts, to (1) replace the previous 160 kilometre extended interswitching limit and the competitive line rate provisions with a new long-haul 
interswitching regime; (2) modify the existing Level of Service remedy for shippers by instructing the Agency to determine, upon receipt of a complaint, if a 
railway company is fulfilling its common carrier obligation to the “highest level of service that is reasonable in the circumstances”; (3) allow the existing 
Service Level Agreement arbitration remedy to include the consideration of reciprocal financial penalties; (4) increase the threshold for summary Final Offer 
Arbitration  from  $750,000  to  $2  million;  (5)  bifurcate  the  Volume-Related  Composite  Price  Index  component  of  the  annual  MRE  determination  for 
transportation  of  regulated  grain,  to  encourage  hopper  car  investment  by  CP  and  Canadian  National  Railway  ("CN");  (6)  mandate  the  installation  of 
locomotive voice and video recorders ("LVVRs"), with statutory permission for random access by railway companies and Transport Canada ("TC") to the 
LVVR data in order to proactively strengthen railway safety in Canada; and (7) compel railways to provide additional data to the federal government.

Economic Regulation - U.S.
The  Company’s  U.S.  rail  operations  are  subject  to  economic  regulation  by  the  Surface  Transportation  Board  (the  “STB”).  The  STB  provides  economic 
regulatory oversight and administers Title 49 of the United States Code and related Code of Federal Regulations. The STB has jurisdiction over railroad rate 
and service issues and proposed railroad mergers and other transactions.

The STB Reauthorization Act of 2015 resulted in numerous changes to the structure and composition of the STB, removing it from under the Department of 
Transport and establishing the STB as an independent U.S. agency, as well as increasing STB Board membership from three to five members. Notably, the 
law vests in the STB certain limited enforcement powers, by authorizing it to investigate rail carrier violations on the STB Board’s own initiative. The law also 
requires the STB to establish a voluntary binding arbitration process to resolve rail rate and practice disputes.

Safety Regulation - Canada
The  Company’s  operations  in  Canada  are  subject  to  safety  regulatory  oversight  by  TC  pursuant  to  the  RSA.  The  RSA  regulates  safety-related  aspects  of 
railway operations in Canada, including the delegation of inspection, investigation and enforcement powers to TC. TC is also responsible for overseeing the 
transportation of dangerous goods as set out under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act ("TDGA").

After the tragic accident in Lac-Mégantic, Québec, in July 2013 involving a non-related short-line railway company, the Government of Canada implemented 
several measures pursuant to the RSA and the TDGA. These modifications implemented changes with respect to rules associated with securing unattended 
trains; the classification of crude being imported, handled, offered for transport, or transported; and the provision of information to municipalities through 
which dangerous goods are transported by rail. The U.S. federal government has taken similar actions. These changes did not have a material impact on 
CP’s operating practices.

In 2015, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act became law. The legislation sets out minimum insurance requirements 
for federally regulated railways based on amounts of crude and toxic inhalation hazards ("TIH") or poisonous inhalation hazards moved. It also imposes 
strict liability; limits railway liability to the minimum insurance level; mandates the creation of a fund paid for by levies on crude shipments, to be utilized for 
damages beyond a railway's liability; allows railways and insurers to maintain rights to pursue other parties (subrogation); and prevents shifting liability to 
shippers from railways except through written agreement.

The Company is allocating resources, including working with public and private rail crossing owners, to meet the Grade Crossings Regulations, under the 
RSA, which came into force in 2014. The regulations require existing crossings to meet specified safety standards by November 2021. 

On November 25, 2020, the Minister of Transport announced updated Duty and Rest Period Rules for Railway Operating Employees. The new rules, founded 
on modern-day fatigue management principles, reduce the length of a duty period and increase the length of the minimum rest period between shifts. The 
rules establish limits on the total number of duty hours, 60 hours in a seven-day period and 192 hours in a 28-day period. These requirements will be phased 
in  30 months from the date of the announcement. The new rules also require federally regulated railways, including the Company, to complete a Fatigue 
Management Plan by November 25, 2021, and implement the Fitness for Duty provisions by November 25, 2022.  

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  39

Safety Regulation - U.S.
The Company’s U.S. operations are subject to safety regulations enforced by the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”), and the Pipelines and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”). The FRA regulates safety-related aspects of the Company’s railway operations in the U.S. under the Federal 
Railroad Safety Act, as well as rail portions of other safety statutes. The PHMSA regulates the safe transportation of all hazardous materials by rail.

On October 29, 2015, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015 ("STEA") was signed into law. The law extends, by three years, the deadline for the 
U.S. rail industry to implement Positive Train Control (“PTC”), a set of highly advanced technologies designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, speed-
related derailments, and other accidents caused by  human  error  by  determining  the  precise location,  direction  and  speed of  trains,  warning  train  
operators    of    potential    problems,    and  taking    immediate    action    if    an  operator  does  not  respond.  Legislation  passed  by  the  U.S.  Congress  in 2008 
mandated that PTC systems be operable by the end of 2015 on rail lines used to transport passengers or toxic-by-inhalation materials. The STEA extended 
the deadline to install and activate PTC to December 31, 2018, with an optional two-year extension (December 31, 2020) under certain circumstances. The 
Company received the two-year extension to ensure safe and effective implementation of PTC on its rail network. CP successfully implemented PTC and was  
PTC compliant as of December 1, 2020.

For further details on the capital expenditures associated with compliance with the PTC regulatory mandate, refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources.

Various other regulators directly and indirectly affect the Company’s operations in areas such as health, safety, security, environmental, and other matters.

Environmental Laws and Regulations
The Company’s operations and real estate assets are subject to extensive federal, provincial, state, and local environmental laws and regulations governing 
emissions  to  the  air,  management  and  remediation  of  historical  contaminant  sites,  discharges  to  waters  and  the  handling,  storage,  transportation,  and 
disposal of waste and other materials. If the Company is found to have violated such laws or regulations, it could have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial condition, or operating results. In addition, in operating a railway, it is possible that releases of hazardous materials during 
derailments or other accidents may occur that could cause harm to human health or to the environment. Costs of remediation, damages and changes in 
regulations could materially affect the Company’s operating results, financial condition, and reputation.

The Company has implemented an Environmental Management System to facilitate the reduction of environmental risk. Specific environmental programs are 
in place to address areas such as air emissions, wastewater, management of vegetation, chemicals and waste, storage tanks, and fueling facilities. CP has 
also undertaken environmental impact assessments and risk assessments to identify, prevent, and mitigate environmental risks. There is continued focus on 
preventing  spills  and  other  incidents  that  have  a  negative  impact  on  the  environment.  There  is  an  established  strategic  emergency  response  contractor 
network, and spill equipment kits are located across Canada and the U.S. to ensure a rapid and efficient response in the event of an environmental incident. 
In addition, emergency preparedness and response plans are regularly updated and tested. In 2020, updates to CP's comprehensive oil spill response plan 
were made in accordance with the changes in the PHMSA regulations.

The  Company  has  developed  an  environmental  audit  program  that  comprehensively,  systematically,  and  regularly  assesses  the  Company’s  facilities  for 
compliance with legal requirements and the Company’s policies for conformance to accepted industry standards. Included in this is a corrective action follow-
up process and semi-annual review by senior management.

CP  focuses  on  key  strategies,  identifying  tactics  and  actions  to  support  and  operationalize  our  environmental  commitments.  The  Company’s  strategies 
include:
•

Implementing measures to minimize or prevent environmental impacts from our operations and facilities, and to ensure compliance with 
applicable environmental laws and regulations;
Maintaining an Environmental Management System to provide consistent, effective guidance and resources to CP employees in regard to 
the  management  of  air  emissions,  dangerous  goods  and  waste  materials,  emergency  preparedness  and  response,  petroleum  products 
management, and water and wastewater systems;
Reducing environmental and safety risk through business processes to identify and mitigate potential environmental impacts related to all 
CP operations and activities;
Ensuring  that  new  or  altered  operations  and  other  business  activities  are  evaluated,  planned,  permitted  in  accordance  with  applicable 
regulations, and executed to mitigate environmental risk; 
Engaging  with  relevant  stakeholders  to  consider  and  discuss  CP’s  environmental  management  practices  and  environmental  issues  and 
concerns associated with our operations;
Employing best practices, proven technologies, and safe operating standards for activities involving elevated environmental risk; and
Planning  and  preparing  for  emergency  responses  to  ensure  all  appropriate  steps  are  taken  in  the  event  of  a  derailment,  spill,  or  other 
incident involving a release to the environment.

•

•

•

•

•
•

 
40  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Security
CP is subject to statutory and regulatory directives in Canada and the U.S. that address security concerns. CP plays a critical role in the North American 
transportation system. Rail lines, facilities and equipment, including railcars carrying hazardous materials, could be direct targets or indirect casualties of 
terrorist attacks, actions by criminal and non-criminal organizations, and activities by individuals. Regulations by the U.S. Department of Transportation and 
the Department of Homeland Security in the U.S. include speed restrictions, chain of custody and security measures, which can impact service and increase 
costs for the transportation of hazardous materials, especially TIH materials. New regulations published by TC under the TDGA have added requirements for 
railway companies to take actions to mitigate security risks of transporting dangerous goods by rail. In addition, insurance premiums for some or all of the 
Company’s current coverage could increase significantly, or certain coverage may not be available to the Company in the future. While CP will continue to 
work closely with Canadian and U.S. government agencies, future decisions by these agencies on security matters or decisions by the industry in response to 
security threats to the North American rail network could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, or operating results.

CP takes the following security measures:
•

CP employs its own police service that works closely with communities and other law enforcement and government agencies to promote railway safety 
and infrastructure security. As a railway law enforcement agency, CP Police Services is headquartered in Calgary, with police officers assigned to over 
25  field  offices  responsible  for  railway  police  operations  in  six  Canadian  provinces  and 14  U.S.  states.  CP  Police  Services  operates  on  the  CP  rail 
network as well as in areas where CP has non-railway operations;
CP’s  Police  Communication  Centre  (“PCC”)  operates  24  hours  a  day.  PCC  receives  reports  of  emergencies,  dangerous  or  potentially  dangerous 
conditions, and other safety and security issues from our employees, the public, and law enforcement and other government officials. PCC ensures that 
proper emergency responders are notified as well as governing bodies;
CP’s Security Management Plan is a comprehensive, risk-based plan modelled on and developed in conjunction with the security plan prepared by the 
Association of American Railroads post-September 11, 2001. Under this plan, CP routinely examines and prioritizes railway assets, physical and cyber 
vulnerabilities, and threats, as well as tests and revises measures to provide essential railway security. To address cyber security risks, CP implements 
mitigation programs that evolve with the changing technology threat environment. The Company has also worked diligently to establish backup sites to 
ensure a seamless transition in the event that the Company's operating systems are the target of a cyber-attack. By doing so, CP is able to maintain 
network fluidity; and
CP security efforts consist of a wide variety of measures including employee training, periodic security assessments, engagement with our customers, 
and training of emergency responders. 

•

•

•

Human Capital Management
CP is focused on attracting, developing, and retaining a resilient, high performing workforce that delivers on providing service for our customers. CP's culture 
is  guided  by  three  core  values:  Accountability,  Diversity,  and  Pride.  These  values  drive  our  actions.  Everything  we  do  is  grounded  in  precision  scheduled 
railroading and our five foundations of Provide Service, Control Costs, Optimize Assets, Operate Safely, and Develop People. 

At CP, our approximately 12,000-strong team of railroaders across North America underpin CP’s success and bring value to our customers and shareholders. 
Accordingly,  Develop  People  is  one  foundation  of  how  we  do  business,  illustrating  our  focus  and  energy  towards  empowering  our  people,  providing  an 
engaging culture and cultivating an industry leading team.  

Total Employees and Workforce 
An employee is defined by the Company as an individual currently engaged in full-time, part-time, or seasonal employment with CP. The total number of 
employees as of December 31, 2020, was 11,890, a decrease of 804, or 6%, compared to 12,694 as at December 31, 2019, due to reduced workload as 
measured in GTMs and more efficient resource planning.

Workforce is defined as total employees plus contractors and consultants. The total workforce as at December 31, 2020 was 11,904, a decrease of 828, or 
7%, compared to 12,732 as at December 31, 2019, due to more efficient resource planning. .

Unionized Workforce
Class I railways are party to collective bargaining agreements with various labour unions. The majority of CP's employees belong to labour unions and are 
subject to these agreements. CP manages collaborative relationships with union members in both Canada and the U.S.

CP  employs  approximately 12,000  active  employees  across  North  America  with  three-quarters  based  in  Canada  and  the  remainder  in  the  United  States. 
Unionized employees represent nearly 72% of our workforce and are represented by 36 active bargaining units. 

Canada
Within Canada there are eight bargaining units representing approximately 6,600 Canadian unionized active employees. From time to time, we negotiate to 
renew  collective  agreements  with  various  unionized  groups  of  employees.  In  such  cases,  the  collective  agreements  remain  in  effect  until  the  bargaining 
process has been exhausted (pursuant to the Canada Labour Code). One agreement is pending ratification and one other remains open for renewal and is 

 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  41

under negotiation as of December 31, 2020. Agreements are in place with the other six bargaining units in Canada, two are effective until December 31, 
2021, and four are effective until 2022.  

U.S.
In  the  U.S.,  there  are  currently  28  active  bargaining  units  on  three  subsidiary  railroads  representing  nearly  1,900  unionized  active  employees.  Nine 
agreements are open for amendment and are under negotiation at this time. 15 agreements will become amendable in 2021 and one in 2022. Negotiations 
have been concluded with respect to the remaining three agreements which will expire beyond 2022. 

Health and Safety
CP is an industry leader in rail safety and we are committed to protecting our employees, our communities, our environment, and our customers’ goods. This 
is CP's 15th consecutive year as industry leader in train accident statistics. Operate Safely is one of our five foundations of successful railroading and it starts 
with  knowing  and  following  the  rules.  Aside  from  running  trains,  many  of  our  employees  work  in  yards,  terminals,  and  shops  across  our  network  with 
machinery and heavy equipment, or in extreme weather conditions. Their safety and security is of utmost importance to CP and is foundational to the way 
we view employee safety education and training. CP HomeSafeTM is an initiative designed to improve our safety culture by tapping into the human side of 
safety and promoting both safety engagement and feedback. HomeSafeTM puts everyone on the same level and empowers all employees to begin a safety 
conversation, no matter the rank or position. Safety performance is disclosed publicly on a quarterly basis using standardized metrics set out by the FRA. 
Additional information on FRA safety measures is included in Performance Indicators in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations.

Talent Management
CP’s approach for talent management begins with our Human Resources department, which oversees recruitment, hiring, development, engagement, and 
retention with the current and future workforce and leadership of CP. 

The Management Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and informs CP’s compensation plan and programming, and 
makes  recommendations  to  the  Board  on  succession  planning  for  senior  management  and  processes  to  identify,  develop,  and  retain  executive  talent. 
Additionally,  as  part  of  CP’s  succession  planning  program,  senior  leaders  are  actively  engaged  in  building  the  pool  of  future  leaders,  and  present  their 
development plans to the Board.

CP maintains a number of internal policies related to recruitment, relocation, compensation, employment equity, and diversity and inclusion. The effective 
implementation of these policies alongside our ongoing workforce initiatives ensures CP’s attraction and recruitment, employee development, succession, 
engagement, and diversity and inclusion practices are consistent and aligned with CP’s commitments, foundations and values.

Attraction and Recruitment
With a rail network spanning Canada and the U.S., we employ a number of recruitment and retention tactics to attract the best and diverse talent across 
North America. CP offers many rewarding career opportunities in a variety of roles within the organization in both operating and support functions. We base 
our recruitment strategy on workforce planning needs, and our focus is on ensuring that we have a diverse candidate pool to fill our open positions.

CP  recognizes  the  valuable  skills  and  experience  that  veterans  have  gained  from  serving  their  country. Our  veteran  program  was  recognized  as  part  of 
Canada's Best Diversity Employers® of 2020 and we were named part of the top 10 Military Friendly® employers in the U.S. for 2021. 

CP tracks recruitment performance and success rates to better understand which tactics, benefits, and strategic partnerships are most successful in bringing 
in and retaining new talent.

Talent Development & Succession
As  part  of  our  core  foundation  and  commitment  to  Develop  People,  we  encourage  all  employees  to  take  an  active  role  in  their  career  planning  and 
development. We believe that investing in our employees leads to improved workplace morale and fosters a supportive working environment.

Training and Development
CP  offers  a  variety  of  training  courses  through  our  Learning  Management  System  that  provides  online  and  technical  training,  including  mandatory,  role-
specific and voluntary courses. This enables our employees to succeed in their current roles and prepares them for career advancement opportunities. 

Non-union employees also complete annual performance management and development action plans with their supervisors to set individual goals and track 
progress against Company expectations as well as long-term career goals. 

 
42  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CP offers key development programs for current and emerging leaders. For our Operations groups, CP’s Leadership Management Trainee program provides 
internal and external candidates with comprehensive training on the critical skills necessary for railway operations and people leadership. Upon successful 
completion of the six to seven month program, participants qualify for a variety of operations frontline leader roles.

Leadership  skills  are  long  considered  a  core  trait  of  CP  employees.  We  encourage  staff  to  develop  leadership  expertise  as  part  of  ongoing  training  and 
development through regular performance reviews and CP-specific skill development programs. Our Consequence Leadership training program focuses on 
creating a high-performance culture and feedback-rich environment at CP. The online learning module and interactive workshops introduce a practical set of 
tools  and  thought  processes  for  instilling  communications  skills  and  management  capabilities  in  our  leaders  and  our  employees.  The  goal  is  to  create  a 
constructive environment that improves bottom-line results and enables employees to perform at their best. To complement the Consequence Leadership 
training program, CP has developed in-house training to enhance leadership capabilities among leaders across the organization to ensure a long-term focus 
on  our  foundation  to  Develop  People.  For  employees  interested  in  further  developing  their  leadership  skills,  CP  also  offers  on-demand  learning  through 
Harvard ManageMentor. 

Succession Management
CP undergoes extensive succession planning for both executive and management level positions.  We measure the retention of our most critical positions 
and develop potential successors to be ready to fill critical roles as soon as positions become available. Looking ahead, CP is developing succession and 
development goals for the many high-potential successors for all critical positions, and will begin to measure the success rate of placing emerging leaders in 
those key positions.

Retention & Engagement
CP’s  career  development  programs  and  diverse  and  inclusive  workplace  culture  help  drive  employee  retention  and  engagement.  In  addition,  we  have 
adopted  a  performance-based  culture,  and  reward  employees  for  dedication  and  hard  work. CP’s  competitive  compensation  and  benefits  packages  are 
benchmarked yearly to ensure they reflect changes in the market. CP offers employees a wellness and fitness subsidy program. Along with our community 
investment programs, CP’s employee programs and resources illustrate our dedication to our employees’ well-being and satisfaction with their careers at CP. 

CP periodically administers non-union surveys to measure employee perspectives and engagement. In 2019, we administered a new Employee Perspective 
survey to continue gathering actionable data regarding employee satisfaction and engagement, and to gain insight into what motivates and inspires our 
employees. These surveys help CP to better tailor our development and retention efforts.

Employee recognition programs are in place to celebrate wins and highlight the great work of our employees. CP’s CEO on the Spot awards, Annual Safety 
Awards and Broken Wheel Awards recognize good performance, heroic acts, milestones, and safety excellence with cash rewards. In addition, CP’s annual 
CEO Awards of Excellence and gala recognizes employees who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to exemplify CP’s five foundations and support 
our focus on providing superior service to our customers and driving value for our shareholders.

Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity  is  one  of  our  core  values  at  CP.  We  believe  that  different  backgrounds,  experiences,  and  perspectives  enhance  creativity  and  innovation  and 
encourage diversity of thought in the workplace. Fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel empowered to strive for and achieve success 
supports our high-performance culture and is integral to our growth and success as an organization.  

CP recognizes the importance of Board member diversity as a critical component of objective oversight and continuous improvement. As of December 31, 
2020, women represented 46% of CP's 2020 Board Membership.

CP  has  regulatory  requirements  to  report  on  workforce  diversity  representation  in  Canada  (Employment  Equity  Act)  and  the  U.S.  (Equal  Employment 
Opportunity Commission). CP currently collects diversity data on the following categories: women, persons with disabilities, minorities (visible minorities), 
and  Indigenous  peoples  (Canada)  from  employees  through  voluntary  self-disclosure.  CP  continues  to  focus  our  efforts  on  attracting,  recruiting,  and 
developing a diverse workforce. This data is shared in various disclosures and government reporting, internally with employees and leaders as well as our 
Board of Directors.  

Year over Year Diversity Representation
Canada and U.S. Diversity Percentages(1)

Women

Persons with disabilities
Minorities (visible minorities)(2)
Indigenous peoples (Canada only)

(1) Percentages are based on total workforce (total number of active employees) at year-end.
(2) Minority is a term used in the U.S., Visible Minority is a term used in Canada.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  43

2020

 10% 

 3% 

 13% 

 3% 

2019

 10% 

 3% 

 13% 

 4% 

2018

 10% 

 2% 

 13% 

 3% 

CP continues to work collaboratively with our employees, communities along our network, and partner organizations in Canada and the U.S. to progress and 
support CP’s commitment toward a more representative and inclusive workplace. Some of our initiatives include:
•

Establishing  three  diversity  councils  (Indigenous,  Gender  and  Racial).  Each  council  is  chaired  by  a  CP  executive  and  represents  a  diverse  group  of 
employees. The councils work to ensure we consider diversity and inclusion when we make decisions, provide feedback on corporate directions and 
promote initiatives that relate to each council’s area of focus;
Continuing our existing partnerships with associations and organizations that attract, recruit, and support skilled immigrants, transitioning veterans, 
persons with disabilities, and women;

•

• Working with Indigenous groups to develop relationships that are more meaningful, create targeted outreach programs and employment opportunities, 

and better understand their history, culture, and opportunities for collaboration.
Supporting the development and advancement of women at CP; and
Increasing employee awareness regarding CP’s workplace diversity and inclusion practices through communications, education, and training.

•
•

Further, CP recently published a Diversity Commitment. This commitment re-enforces the efforts we have made, and will continue to make, in our journey to 
becoming a more diverse and inclusive company, one that we and those we do business with are proud to be a part. 

We pride ourselves on offering a diverse workplace with a variety of careers in both our corporate and field locations. We recruit and hire talent based on 
relevant skills and experience, and seek to attract the highest quality candidates regardless of gender, age, cultural heritage, or ethnic origin. One of our 
primary objectives is attracting, recruiting, retaining, and developing a workforce representative of the communities in which we operate. 

Available Information
CP makes available on or through its website www.cpr.ca free of charge, its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports 
on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and 
Exchange  Commission  (“SEC”).  Our  website  also  contains  charters  for  each  of  the  committees  of  our  Board  of  Directors,  our  corporate  governance 
guidelines and our Code of Business Ethics. This Form 10-K and other SEC filings made by CP are also accessible through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

The Company has included the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") certifications regarding the Company's public disclosure 
required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and applicable securities laws in Canada as Exhibits to this annual report.

All references to our websites contained herein do not constitute incorporation by reference of information contained on such websites and such information 
should not be considered part of this document.

 
44  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 

The risks set forth in the following risk factors could have a materially adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, 
and liquidity, and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the Company's forward-looking statements and forward-
looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). 

The information set forth in this Item 1A. Risk Factors should be read in conjunction with the rest of the information included in this annual report, including 
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Business Risks
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected and may continue to negatively affect the Company's business and operating results. 
The  effects  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  on  consumer  demand  resulted  in  lower  volumes  in  several  of  the  Company's  lines  of  business,  including Energy, 
chemicals and plastics, Metals, minerals and consumer products, and Automotive. The future impacts of COVID-19 on the Company's business or operating 
and financial results are unpredictable and cannot be identified or assessed with certainty at this time. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the 
global economy and resulted in a widespread economic downturn which has adversely impacted and could continue to adversely impact demand for our 
services and otherwise cause interruptions, including fluctuations to commodity prices, disruptions or restrictions on the ability to transport freight in the 
ordinary  course,  temporary  closures  of  facilities  and  ports,  or  the  facilities  and  ports  of  our  customers,  partners,  suppliers  or  other  third-party  service 
providers, and/or changes to export/import restrictions. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has impacted and may continue to impact the seasonal trends 
that typically characterize our revenues and operating income. There is no assurance that the outbreak will not continue to have a material and adverse 
impact on our business or results of operations. Additionally, our operations could be further negatively affected if a significant number of our employees are 
unable to perform their normal duties, including because of contracting COVID-19 or based on further direction from governments, public health authorities 
or regulatory agencies. The extent of the impact, if any, will depend on developments, many of which are beyond our control, including actions taken by 
governments, financial institutions, monetary policy authorities, and public health authorities to contain and respond to public health concerns and general 
economic conditions as a result of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic may also result in continued substantial market volatility and declines, which 
could  adversely  impact  future  net  periodic  benefit  costs  and  funding  requirements  of  CP’s  pension  plans.  Furthermore,  certain  impacts  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic, including demand for our services and to economic conditions generally, could continue following the pandemic or the expiration or termination 
of government actions in respect of the pandemic.

We will continue to actively monitor the situation and may take further actions that alter our business operations as may be required or recommended by 
federal, provincial, state or local authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers, shareholders 
and other stakeholders. We cannot be certain of potential effects that any such alterations or modifications may have on our business or operating and 
financial results in future fiscal periods.

To the extent COVID-19 adversely affects our business or operating and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks 
described above and below.

As a common carrier, the Company is required by law to transport dangerous goods and hazardous materials, which could expose the 
Company to significant costs and claims. Railways, including CP, are legally required to transport dangerous goods and hazardous materials as part of 
their common carrier obligations regardless of risk or potential exposure to loss. CP transports dangerous goods and hazardous materials, including but not 
limited to crude oil, ethanol and TIH materials such as chlorine gas and anhydrous ammonia. A train accident involving hazardous materials could result in 
significant claims against CP arising from personal injury, property or natural resource damage, environmental penalties and remediation obligations. Such 
claims, if insured, could exceed the existing insurance coverage commercially available to CP, which could have a material adverse effect on CP’s financial 
condition,  operating  results,  and  liquidity.  CP  is  also  required  to  comply  with  rules  and  regulations  regarding  the  handling  of  dangerous  goods  and 
hazardous materials in Canada and the U.S. Noncompliance with these rules and regulations can subject the Company to significant penalties and could 
factor in litigation arising out of a train accident. Changes to these rules and regulations could also increase operating costs, reduce operating efficiencies 
and impact service delivery. 

The Company is subject to significant governmental legislation and regulation over commercial, operating and environmental matters. 
The  Company’s  railway  operations  are  subject  to  extensive  federal  laws,  regulations  and  rules  in  both  Canada  and  the  U.S.  Operations  are  subject  to 
economic and safety regulations in Canada primarily by the Agency and TC. The Company’s U.S. operations are subject to economic and safety regulation by 
the STB and the FRA. Various other regulators directly and indirectly affect the Company’s operations in areas such as health, safety, security, environmental 
and other matters. Additional economic regulation of the rail industry by these regulators or the Canadian and U.S. federal and state or provincial legislative 
bodies, whether under new or existing laws, could have a significant negative impact on the Company’s ability to determine prices for rail services and result 
in a material adverse effect in the future on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations, and liquidity in a particular year or quarter. This 
potential material adverse effect could also result in reduced capital spending on the Company’s rail network or in abandonment of lines.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  45

The Company’s compliance with safety and security regulations may result in increased capital expenditures and operating costs. For example, compliance 
with the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 has resulted in additional capital expenditures associated with the statutorily mandated implementation of 
PTC. In addition to increased capital expenditures, implementation of such regulations may result in reduced operational efficiency and service levels, as well 
as increased operating expenses.

The Company’s operations are subject to extensive federal, state, provincial and local environmental laws concerning, among other matters, emissions to the 
air, land and water and the handling of hazardous materials and wastes. Violation of these laws and regulations can result in significant fines and penalties, 
as well as other potential impacts on CP’s operations. These laws can impose strict, and in some circumstances, joint and several liability on both current and 
former  owners,  and  on  operators  of  facilities.  Such  environmental  liabilities  may  also  be  raised  by  adjacent  landowners  or  third  parties.  In  addition,  in 
operating a railway, it is possible that releases of hazardous materials during derailments or other accidents may occur that could cause harm to human 
health  or  to  the  environment.  Costs  of  remediation,  damages  and  changes  in  regulations  could  materially  affect  the  Company’s  operating  results  and 
reputation. The Company has been, and may in the future be, subject to allegations or findings to the effect that it has violated, or is strictly liable under, 
environmental laws or regulations. The Company currently has obligations at existing sites for investigation, remediation and monitoring, and will likely have 
obligations at other sites in the future. The actual costs associated with both current and long-term liabilities may vary from the Company’s estimates due to 
a number of factors including, but not limited to changes in: the content or interpretation of environmental laws and regulations; required remedial actions; 
technology associated with site investigation or remediation; and the involvement and financial viability of other parties that may be responsible for portions 
of those liabilities.

The Company faces competition from other transportation providers and failure to compete effectively could adversely affect financial 
results.  The  Company  faces  significant  competition  for  freight  transportation  in  Canada  and  the  U.S.,  including  competition  from  other  railways,  motor 
carriers, ship and barge operators, and pipelines. Competition is based mainly on quality of service, freight rates and access to markets. Other transportation 
modes generally use public rights-of-way that are built and maintained by government entities, while CP and other railways must use internal resources to 
build  and  maintain  their  rail  networks.  Competition  with  the  trucking  industry  is  generally  based  on  freight  rates,  flexibility  of  service  and  transit  time 
performance.  Any  future  improvements  or  expenditures  materially  increasing  the  quality  or  reducing  the  cost  of  alternative  modes  of  transportation,  or 
legislation that eliminates or significantly reduces the burden of the size or weight limitations currently applicable to trucking carriers, could have a material 
adverse effect on CP's financial results.

The operations of carriers with which the Company interchanges may adversely affect operations. The Company's ability to provide rail services to customers 
in Canada and the U.S. also depends upon its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with connecting carriers with respect to, among other matters, 
revenue  division,  car  supply  and  locomotive  availability,  data  exchange  and  communications,  reciprocal  switching,  interchange,  and  trackage  rights. 
Deterioration in the operations or services provided by connecting carriers, or in the Company's relationship with those connecting carriers, could result in 
CP's  inability  to  meet  customers'  demands  or  require  the  Company  to  use  alternate  train  routes,  which  could  result  in  significant  additional  costs  and 
network inefficiencies and adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

The Company may be subject to litigation and other claims that could result in significant expenditures. By nature of its operations, the 
Company is exposed to potential for litigation and other claims, including personal injury claims, labour and employment disputes, commercial and contract 
disputes,  environmental  liability,  freight  claims  and  property  damage  claims.  Accruals  are  made  in  accordance  with  applicable  accounting  standards  and 
based  on  an  ongoing  assessment  of  the  likelihood  of  success  of  the  claim  together  with  an  evaluation  of  the  damages  or  other  monetary  relief  sought. 
Material changes to litigation trends, a catastrophic rail incident or series of incidents involving freight loss, property damage, personal injury, environmental 
liability, or other claims, and other significant matters could have a material adverse impact to the Company's results of operations, financial position and 
liquidity, in each case, to the extent not covered by insurance.

The Company may be affected by acts of terrorism, war, or risk of war. CP plays a critical role in the North American transportation system and 
therefore could become the target for acts of terrorism or war. CP is also involved in the transportation of hazardous materials, which could result in CP's 
equipment or infrastructure being direct targets or indirect casualties of terrorist attacks. Acts of terrorism, or other similar events, any government response 
thereto, and war or risk of war could cause significant business interruption to CP and may adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, financial 
condition and liquidity. 

Severe weather or natural disasters could result in significant business interruptions and costs to the Company. CP is exposed to severe 
weather  conditions  and  natural  disasters  including  earthquakes,  hurricanes,  floods,  fires,  avalanches,  mudslides,  extreme  temperatures  and  significant 
precipitation that may cause business interruptions that can adversely affect the Company’s entire rail network. This could result in increased costs, increased 
liabilities  and  decreased  revenues,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  results  of  operations,  financial  condition,  and  liquidity. 
Insurance maintained by the Company to protect against loss of business and other related consequences resulting from these natural occurrences is subject 
to coverage limitations, depending on the nature of the risk insured. This insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of the Company's damages or damages 
to others, and may not continue to be available at commercially reasonable rates. Even with insurance, if any natural occurrence leads to a catastrophic 
interruption of services, the Company may not be able to restore services without a significant interruption in operations.

 
46  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Human Capital Risks
The  availability  of  qualified  personnel  could  adversely  affect  the  Company's  operations.  Changes  in  employee  demographics,  training 
requirements and the availability of qualified personnel, particularly locomotive engineers and trainpersons, could negatively impact the Company’s ability to 
meet  demand  for  rail  services.  Unpredictable  increases  in  the  demand  for  rail  services  may  increase  the  risk  of  having  insufficient  numbers  of  trained 
personnel,  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the  Company’s  results  of  operations,  financial  condition  and  liquidity.  In  addition,  changes  in 
operations and other technology improvements may significantly impact the number of employees required to meet the demand for rail services.

Strikes or work stoppages could adversely affect the Company's operations. Class I railways are party to collective bargaining agreements with 
various labour unions. The majority of CP's employees belong to labour unions and are subject to these agreements. Disputes with regard to the terms of 
these agreements or the Company's potential inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with these unions could result in, among other things, strikes, work 
stoppages,  slowdowns  or  lockouts,  which  could  cause  a  significant  disruption  of  the  Company's  operations  and  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  the 
Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Additionally, future national labour agreements, or provisions of labour agreements related 
to health care, could significantly increase the Company's costs for health and welfare benefits, which could have a material adverse impact on its financial 
condition and liquidity. 

Volatility Risks
The Company may be affected by fluctuating fuel prices. Fuel expense constitutes a significant portion of the Company’s operating costs. Fuel prices 
can be subject to dramatic fluctuations, and significant price increases could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations. The 
Company currently employs a fuel cost adjustment program to help reduce volatility in changing fuel prices, but the Company cannot be certain that it will 
always be able to fully mitigate rising or elevated fuel costs through this program. Factors affecting fuel prices include worldwide oil demand, international 
politics, weather, refinery capacity, supplier and upstream outages, unplanned infrastructure failures, environmental and sustainability policies, and labour 
and political instability. 

Technology Risks
The Company relies on technology and technological improvements to operate its business. Information technology is critical to all aspects of 
CP’s business. If the Company were to experience a significant disruption or failure of one or more of its information technology or communications systems 
(either as a result of an intentional cyber or malicious act, or an unintentional error) it could result in service interruptions or other failures, misappropriation 
of confidential information and deficiencies, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, and 
liquidity. If CP is unable to acquire or implement new technology, the Company may suffer a competitive disadvantage, which could also have an adverse 
effect on its results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Supply Chain Risks
Disruptions within the supply chain could negatively affect the Company's operational efficiencies and increase costs. The North American 
transportation  system  is  integrated.  CP’s  operations  and  service  may  be  negatively  impacted  by  service  disruptions  of  other  transportation  links,  such  as 
ports, handling facilities, customer facilities and other railways. A prolonged service disruption at one of these entities could have a material adverse effect 
on the Company's results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

The  Company  is  dependent  on  certain  key  suppliers  of  core  railway  equipment  and  materials  that  could  result  in  increased  price 
volatility or significant shortages of materials, which could adversely affect results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. Due 
to the complexity and specialized nature of core railway equipment and infrastructure (including rolling stock equipment, locomotives, rail and ties), there 
can be a limited number of suppliers of rail equipment and materials available. Should these specialized suppliers cease production or experience capacity or 
supply shortages, this concentration of suppliers could result in CP experiencing cost increases or difficulty in obtaining rail equipment and materials, which 
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. Additionally, CP’s operations are dependent on 
the availability of diesel fuel. A significant fuel supply shortage arising from production decreases, increased demand in existing or emerging foreign markets, 
disruption of oil imports, disruption of domestic refinery production, damage to refinery or pipeline infrastructure, political unrest, war or other factors could 
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations, financial position and liquidity in a particular year or quarter.

General Risk Factors
Global Risks
Global economic conditions could negatively affect demand for commodities and other freight transported by the Company. A decline or 
disruption in domestic, cross border or global economic conditions that affect the supply or demand for the commodities that CP transports may decrease 
CP’s  freight  volumes  and  may  result  in  a  material  adverse  effect  on  CP’s  financial  or  operating  results  and  liquidity.  Economic  conditions  resulting  in 
bankruptcies of one or more large customers could have a significant impact on CP's financial position, results of operations, and liquidity in a particular year 
or quarter.

The Company may be directly and indirectly affected by the impacts of global climate change. There is potential for significant impacts to CP’s 
business and rail infrastructure due to changes in global climate conditions. Increasing frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events such as 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  47

flooding, storms and forest fires may result in substantial costs to respond during the event, to recover from the event and possibly to modify existing or 
implementing  new  infrastructure  to  prevent  recurrence. The  Company  is  currently  subject  to  emerging  regulatory  programs  that  place  a  price  on  carbon 
emissions associated with railway operations in Canada. Government bodies at the provincial and federal level are imposing carbon taxation systems and 
cap and trade market mechanisms in the Canadian jurisdictions in which CP operates. As a significant consumer of diesel fuel, an escalating price on carbon 
emissions  will  lead  to  a  corresponding  increase  of  the  Company’s  business  costs.  Programs  that  place  a  price  on  carbon  emissions  or  other  government 
restrictions on certain market sectors may further impact current and potential customers including thermal coal, petroleum crude oil and renewable fuel 
sectors. Introduction of, or changes to, regulations by government bodies in response to these anticipated impacts could result in a significant increase in 
expenses and could adversely affect our business performance, results of operations, financial position, and liquidity.

Liquidity Risks
The state of capital markets could adversely affect the Company's liquidity. Weakness in the capital and credit markets could negatively impact 
the Company’s access to capital. From time to time, the Company relies on the capital markets to provide some of its capital requirements, including the 
issuance  of  long-term  debt  instruments  and  commercial  paper.  Significant  instability  or  disruptions  of  the  capital  markets  and  the  credit  markets,  or 
deterioration of the Company's financial condition due to internal or external factors could restrict or eliminate the Company's access to, and/or significantly 
increase  the  cost  of,  various  financing  sources,  including  bank  credit  facilities  and  issuance  of  corporate  bonds.  Instability  or  disruptions  of  the  capital 
markets and deterioration of the Company's financial condition, alone or in combination, could also result in a reduction in the Company's credit rating to 
below  investment  grade,  which  could  also  further  prohibit  or  restrict  the  Company  from  accessing  external  sources  of  short-term  and  long-term  debt 
financing, and/or significantly increase the associated costs.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 
48  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Network Geography
The Company’s network in Canada extends from the Port of Vancouver on Canada’s Pacific Coast to the Port of Montréal and eastern Québec up into the 
Port of Saint John, New Brunswick via haulage, and to the U.S. industrial centres of Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Buffalo and Albany, New York; 
Kansas City, Missouri; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The Company’s network is composed of three primary corridors: Western, Central and Eastern.

The Western Corridor: Vancouver to Thunder Bay
Overview – The Western Corridor links Vancouver with Thunder Bay, which is the Western Canadian terminus of the Company’s Eastern Corridor. With 
service  through  Calgary,  the  Western  Corridor  is  an  important  part  of  the  Company’s  routes  between  Vancouver  and  the  U.S.  Midwest,  and  between 
Vancouver and eastern Canada. The Western Corridor provides access to the Port of Thunder Bay, Canada’s primary Great Lakes bulk terminal.

Products – The Western Corridor is the Company’s primary route for bulk and resource products traffic from western Canada to the Port of Vancouver for 
export. CP also handles significant volumes of international intermodal containers and domestic general merchandise traffic.

Feeder Lines – CP supports its Western Corridor with four significant feeder lines: the “Coal Route”, which links southeastern B.C. coal deposits to the 
Western Corridor and to coal terminals at the Port of Vancouver; the “Edmonton-Calgary Route”, which provides rail access to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland 
(north of Edmonton, Alberta) in addition to the petrochemical facilities in central Alberta; the “Pacific CanAm Route”, which connects Calgary and Medicine 
Hat in Alberta with Pacific Northwest rail routes at Kingsgate, B.C. via the Crowsnest Pass in Alberta; and the “North Main Line Route” that provides rail 
service  to  customers  between  Portage  la  Prairie,  Manitoba,  and  Wetaskiwin,  Alberta,  including  intermediate  stations  at  Yorkton  and  Saskatoon  in 
Saskatchewan. This line is an important collector of Canadian grain and fertilizer, serving the potash mines located east and west of Saskatoon and many 
high-throughput  grain  elevators  and  processing  facilities.  In  addition,  this  line  provides  direct  access  to  refining  and  upgrading  facilities  at  Lloydminster, 
Alberta, and western Canada’s largest pipeline terminal at Hardisty, Alberta.

Connections – The Company’s Western Corridor connects with the Union Pacific Railroad (“UP”) at Kingsgate and with Burlington Northern Santa Fe 
Railway  ("BNSF")  at  Coutts,  Alberta,  and  at  New  Westminster  and  Huntingdon  in  B.C.  This  corridor  also  connects  with  CN  at  many  locations  including 
Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Red Deer, Camrose, Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta, Kamloops and several 
locations in the Greater Vancouver area in B.C.

Yards and Repair Facilities – CP supports rail operations on the Western Corridor with main rail yards at Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Moose Jaw 
in Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and Thunder Bay. The Company has locomotive and railcar repair facilities at Golden in B.C., Vancouver, Calgary, Moose Jaw 
and Winnipeg. CP also has major intermodal terminals at Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Winnipeg. 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  49

The Central Corridor: Moose Jaw and Winnipeg to Chicago and Kansas City
Overview – The Central Corridor connects with the Western Corridor at Moose Jaw and Winnipeg. By running south to Chicago and Kansas City, through 
the  Twin  Cities  of  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  and  through  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  CP  provides  a  direct,  single-carrier  route  between  western 
Canada and the U.S. Midwest, providing access to Great Lakes and Mississippi River ports. From La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Central Corridor continues south 
towards Kansas City via the Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island and Moline in Illinois), providing an efficient route for traffic 
destined for southern U.S. and Mexican markets. CP’s Kansas City line also has a direct connection into Chicago and by extension to points east on CP’s 
network such as Toronto, Ontario and the Port of Montréal in Québec.

Products – Traffic transported on the Central Corridor includes intermodal containers from the Port of Vancouver, fertilizers, chemicals, crude, frac sand, 
Automotive, and Grain and other agricultural products.

Feeder  Lines  –  The  Company  has  operating  rights  over  BNSF  tracks  between  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul  along  with  connectivity  to  the  twin  ports  of 
Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. CP maintains its own yard facilities that provide an outlet for grain from the U.S. Midwest to the grain terminals 
at these ports. This is a strategic entry point for large dimensional shipments that can be routed via CP's network to locations such as Alberta's Industrial 
Heartland  to  serve  the  needs  of  the  oil  sands  and  energy  industry.  CP's  route  from  Winona,  Minnesota,  to  Tracy,  Minnesota,  provides  access  to  key 
agricultural  and  industrial  commodities.  CP’s  feeder  line  between  Drake  and  New  Town  in  North  Dakota  is  geographically  situated  in  a  highly  strategic 
region for Bakken oil production. CP also owns two significant feeder lines in North Dakota and western Minnesota operated by the Dakota Missouri Valley 
and Western Railroad and the Northern Plains Railroad, respectively. Both of these short lines are also active in providing service to agricultural and Bakken-
oil-related customers.

Connections – The Company’s Central Corridor connects with all major railways at Chicago. Outside of Chicago, CP has major connections with BNSF at 
Minneapolis, Minot, North Dakota, and the Duluth-Superior Terminal and with UP at St. Paul and Mankato, Minnesota. CP connects with CN at Milwaukee 
and Chicago. At Kansas City, CP connects with Kansas City Southern (“KCS”), BNSF, Norfolk Southern Railway ("NS") and UP. CP’s Central Corridor also 
links to several short-line railways that primarily serve grain and coal producing areas in the U.S., and extend CP’s market reach in the rich agricultural areas 
of the U.S. Midwest. A haulage arrangement with Genesee & Wyoming Inc., provides Intermodal service to Jeffersonville, Ohio.

Yards and Repair Facilities – The Company supports rail operations on the Central Corridor with main rail yards in Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and 
Glenwood in Minnesota, and Mason City and Davenport in Iowa. In addition, CP has a major locomotive repair facility at St. Paul and car repair facilities at 
St. Paul and Chicago. CP shares a yard with KCS in Kansas City. CP owns 49% of the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, a switching railway serving Greater 
Chicago and northwest Indiana. CP is also part owner of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago, which is the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad 
in the U.S. CP has major intermodal terminals in Minneapolis and Chicago as well as a dried distillers' grains transload facility that complements the service 
offering in Chicago.

The Eastern Corridor: Thunder Bay to Eastern Québec, Detroit and Albany
Overview – The Eastern Corridor extends from Thunder Bay through to the Port of Montréal, Searsport, Maine and the Port of Saint John, via haulage 
agreement, and from Toronto to Chicago via Detroit or Buffalo. The Company’s Eastern Corridor provides shippers direct rail service from Toronto, Montréal, 
and  Saint  John  to  Calgary  and  Vancouver  via  the  Company’s  Western  Corridor  and  to  the  U.S.  via  the  Central  Corridor.  This  is  a  key  element  of  the 
Company’s transcontinental intermodal service. The corridor also supports the Company’s market position at the Port of Montréal by providing one of the 
shortest rail routes for European cargo destined to the U.S. Midwest, using the CP-owned route between Montréal and Detroit, coupled with a trackage 
rights arrangement on NS tracks between Detroit and Chicago or the CP-owned route between Montréal and Buffalo coupled with a haulage arrangement 
on CSX Corporation (“CSX”) tracks between Buffalo and Chicago. CP’s 2019 acquisition of CMQ Canada and the 2020 acquisition of CMQ U.S. extends 
access through southern and eastern Québec to Saint John, New Brunswick and the U.S. Northeast including Searsport, Maine. In 2020, CP acquired full 
ownership of the DRTP. The 1.6-mile tunnel linking Windsor and Detroit will continue to be operated by CP.

Products – Major traffic categories transported in the Eastern Corridor include Forest products, chemicals and plastics, crude, ethanol, Metals, minerals 
and consumer products, Intermodal, automotive products and general merchandise. 

Feeder  Lines  –  A  major  feeder  line  serves  the  steel  industry  at  Hamilton,  Ontario  and  provides  connections  with  both  CSX  and  NS  at  Buffalo.  The 
Delaware & Hudson Railway Company, Inc. ("D&H") feeder line extends from Montréal to Albany. 

Connections  –  The  Eastern  Corridor  connects  with  a  number  of  short-line  railways  including  routes  from  Montréal  to  Québec  City,  Québec  and 
Brownsville Junction, Maine to Saint John, New Brunswick. Connections are also made with PanAm Southern at Mechanicville, New York, for service to the 
Boston  and  New  England  areas,  the  Vermont  Railway  at  Whitehall,  New  York,  and  at  Northern  Main  Junction.  Through  haulage  arrangements,  CP  has 
service to Fresh Pond, New York, to connect with New York & Atlantic Railway as well as direct access to the Bronx and Queens, New York. CP can also 
access Philadelphia as well as a number of short-lines in Pennsylvania. Connections are also made with CN at a number of locations, including Sudbury, 
North Bay, Windsor, London, Hamilton and Toronto in Ontario, and Montréal in Québec. CP also connects in New York with the two eastern Class I railways; 
NS and CSX at Buffalo, NS at Schenectady and CSX at Albany.

 
50  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Yards and Repair Facilities – CP supports its rail operations in the Eastern Corridor with major rail yards at Sudbury, Toronto, London and Montréal. 
The Company has locomotive repair facilities at Montréal and Toronto and car repair facilities at Thunder Bay, Toronto and Montréal. The Company’s largest 
intermodal facility is located in the northern Toronto suburb of Vaughan and serves the Greater Toronto and southwestern Ontario areas. CP also operates 
intermodal terminals at Montréal and Detroit. CP also has transload facilities in Agincourt, Milton, and Hamilton, Ontario and in Montréal, Québec to meet a 
variety of commodity needs in these areas.

Right-of-Way
The Company’s rail network is standard gauge, which is used by all major railways in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Continuous welded rail is used on the 
core main line rail network. 

CP uses different train control systems on portions of the Company’s owned track, depending on the volume of rail traffic. Remotely controlled centralized 
traffic control signals are used in various corridors to authorize the movement of trains. CP has implemented PTC on 2,117 miles of its U.S. network.

In other corridors, train movements are directed by written instructions transmitted electronically and by radio from rail traffic controllers to train crews. In 
some  specific  areas  of  intermediate  traffic  density,  CP  uses  an  automatic  block  signalling  system  in  conjunction  with  written  instructions  from  rail  traffic 
controllers.

Network Investment
The Company continually assesses its network to ensure appropriate capacity to meet market demand. As part of CP's annual capital program, the Company 
has  made  substantial  investments  to  support  current  and  future  volumes,  including  upgrading  the  network  to  handle  longer  and  heavier  trains,  such  as 
extending  sidings  to  accommodate  new  train  lengths.  The  Company’s  operating  metrics,  such  as  average  train  speed, length,  and  weight,  demonstrate 
efficient  utilization  of  network  capacity,  discussed  in  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations, 
Performance Indicators.

Track and Infrastructure
CP operates on a network of approximately 13,000 miles of track, of which 2,300 miles CP accesses under trackage rights. The Company's owned track 
miles include leases with wholly owned subsidiaries where the term of the lease exceeds 99 years. CP's track network represents the size of the Company's 
operations that connects markets, customers and other railways. Of the total mileage operated, approximately 5,400 miles are located in western Canada, 
2,500 miles in eastern Canada (including CMQ Canada), 4,500 miles in the U.S. Midwest and 700 miles in the U.S. Northeast. CP’s network accesses the 
U.S. markets directly through four wholly owned subsidiaries: Soo Line Railroad Company (“Soo Line”), a Class I railway operating in the U.S. Midwest; 
the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad ("DM&E"), which operates in the U.S. Midwest; the D&H, which operates between eastern Canada and the U.S. 
Northeast; and the CMQ U.S., which operates in the U.S. Northeast.

At December 31, 2020, the breakdown of CP operated track miles is as follows: 

First main track

Second and other main track

Passing sidings and yard track

Industrial and way track

Total track miles

Total

13,046 

1,051 

4,261 

878 

19,236 

Rail Facilities
CP operates numerous facilities including: terminals for intermodal, transload, automotive and other freight; classification rail yards for train-building and 
switching, storage-in-transit and other activities; offices to administer and manage operations; dispatch centres to direct traffic on the rail network; crew 
quarters to house train crews along the rail line; shops and other facilities for fuelling; maintenance and repairs of locomotives; and facilities for maintenance 
of  freight  cars  and  other  equipment.  The  Company  continues  to  invest  in  terminal  upgrades  and  new  facilities  to  accommodate  incremental  growth  in 
volumes, such as creating additional capacity with the redesign of the classification yard at Alyth in Calgary. The Company’s average terminal dwell is an 
indicator  of  efficient  utilization  of  yard  capacity,  discussed  in  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations,  Performance  Indicators.  Typically  in  all  of  our  major  yards,  CP  Police  Services  has  offices  to  ensure  the  safety  and  security  of  the  yards  and 
operations.

 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  51

The following table includes the major yards, terminals and transload facilities on CP's network:

Classification Yards
Vancouver, British Columbia
Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Toronto, Ontario
Montréal, Québec
Chicago, Illinois
St. Paul, Minnesota

Intermodal Terminals
Vancouver, British Columbia
Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta 
Regina, Saskatchewan
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Vaughan, Ontario
Lachine, Québec
Chicago, Illinois
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Transload Facilities
Vancouver, British Columbia
Toronto, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Côte Saint-Luc, Québec

Equipment
CP's  equipment  includes:  owned  and  leased  locomotives  and  railcars;  heavy  maintenance  equipment  and  machinery;  other  equipment  and  tools  in  our 
shops,  offices  and  facilities;  and  vehicles  for  maintenance,  transportation  of  crews,  and  other  activities.  In  this  section,  owned  equipment  includes  units 
acquired by CP, equipment leased to third parties, and units held under finance leases, and leased equipment includes units under a short-term or long-term 
operating lease.

The  Company’s  locomotive  fleet  is  composed  of  largely  high-adhesion  alternating  current locomotives  that  are  more  fuel  efficient  and  reliable  and  have 
superior  hauling  capacity  as  compared  with  standard  direct  current  locomotives.  The  Company  is  continuing  a  modernization  program  on  several  of  the 
oldest  locomotives  in  the  fleet  in  order  to  improve  reliability  and  availability,  as  well  as  to  introduce  new  technology  to  the  fleet.  CP’s  locomotive 
productivity, defined as the daily average GTMs divided by daily average operating horsepower, for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, 
was 207, 202, and 198 GTMs per Operating horsepower, respectively. Operating horsepower excludes units offline, tied up or in storage, or in use on other 
railways, and includes foreign units online. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 310 locomotives in storage. As of December 31, 2020, CP owned or 
leased the following locomotive units:  

Locomotives

Line haul

Road switcher

Total locomotives

Owned

770   

566   

1,336

Leased

62   

14   

76

Total

832   

580   

1,412  

Average Age 
(in years)

14 

30 

20 

CP’s  average  in-service  utilization  percentage  for  freight  cars,  for  the  years  ended  December  31,  2020,  2019,  and  2018,  was  81%,  81%,  and  84%, 
respectively. Average in-service utilization is defined as average active fleet for the year divided by total cars, excluding company service cars and tank cars 
as these are utilized only as required for non-revenue movements. As of December 31, 2020, CP owned and leased the following units of freight cars: 

Freight cars

Box car

Covered hopper

Flat car

Gondola

Intermodal

Multi-level autorack

Company service car

Open top hopper

Tank car

Total freight cars

Owned

2,502  

8,623

1,436

3,623

1,315

2,800

2,413

113  

33

Leased

545 

7,693

998

1,595

150

1,017

176

— 

32

Total

3,047  

16,316  

2,434  

5,218  

1,465  

3,817  

2,589  

113  

65  

22,858

12,206

35,064  

Average Age 
(in years)

31 

21 

26 

22 

16 

26 

45 

34 

14 

24 

 
 
 
52  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

As of December 31, 2020, CP owned and leased the following units of intermodal equipment: 

Intermodal equipment

Containers

Chassis

Total intermodal equipment

Owned

8,150  

6,374

14,524

Leased

— 

109

109

Total

8,150

6,483

14,633

Average Age 
(in years)

7

12

9

Headquarters Office Building 
CP  owns  and  operates  a  multi-building  campus  in  Calgary  encompassing  the  head  office  building,  a  data  centre,  training  facility  and  other  office  and 
operational buildings. 

The Company's main dispatch centre is located in Calgary, and is the primary dispatching facility in Canada. Rail traffic controllers coordinate and dispatch 
crews,  and  manage  the  day-to-day  locomotive  management  along  the  network,  24  hours  a  day,  and  seven  days  a  week.  The  operations  centre  has  a 
complete backup system in the event of any power disruption. 

In addition to fully operational redundant systems, CP has a fully integrated Business Continuity Centre, should CP's operations centre be affected by any 
natural disaster, fire, cyber-attack or hostile threat.

CP also maintains a secondary dispatch centre located in Minneapolis, where a facility similar to the one in Calgary exists. It services the dispatching needs 
of locomotives and train crews working in the U.S. 

Capital Expenditures
The Company incurs expenditures to expand and enhance its rail network, rolling stock and other infrastructure. These expenditures are aimed at improving 
efficiency  and  safety  of  our  operations.  Such  investments  are  also  an  integral  part  of  the  Company's  multi-year  capital  program  and  support  growth 
initiatives. For further details, refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital 
Resources.

Encumbrances
Refer to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 16 Debt, for information on the Company's finance lease obligations and assets held as 
collateral under these agreements. 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For further details, refer to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 25 Commitments and contingencies.

SEC  regulations  require  the  disclosure  of  any  proceeding  under  environmental  laws  to  which  a  government  authority  is  a  party  unless  the  registrant 
reasonably believes it will not result in sanctions over a certain threshold. The Company uses a threshold of U.S. $1 million for the purposes of determining 
proceedings requiring disclosure.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  53

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Our executive officers are appointed by the Board of Directors and they hold office until their successors are appointed, subject to resignation, retirement or 
removal by the Board of Directors. There are no family relationships among our officers, nor any arrangement or understanding between any officer and any 
other person pursuant to which the officer was selected. As of the date of this filing, the executive officers’ names, ages and business experience are:

Name, Age and Position
Keith Creel, 52
President and Chief Executive Officer

Business Experience
Mr. Creel became President and CEO of CP on January 31, 2017. Previously, he was President and Chief 
Operating Officer ("COO") from February 5, 2013, to January 30, 2017.

Prior to joining CP, Mr. Creel was Executive Vice-President and COO at CN from January 2010 to February 
2013. During his time at CN, Mr. Creel held various positions including Executive Vice-President, Operations, 
Senior  Vice-President  Eastern  Region,  Senior  Vice-President  Western  Region,  and  Vice-President  of  the 
Prairie Division.

Mr. Creel began his railroad career at Burlington Northern Railway in 1992 as an intermodal ramp manager 
in  Birmingham,  Alabama.  He  also  spent  part  of  his  career  at  Grand  Trunk  Western  Railroad  as  a 
superintendent  and  general  manager,  and  at  Illinois  Central  Railroad  as  a  trainmaster  and  director  of 
corridor operations, prior to its merger with CN in 1999.

Mark Redd, 50
Executive Vice-President, Operations

Mr. Redd has been Executive Vice-President Operations since September 1, 2019. Before this appointment, 
he was Senior Vice-President Operations Western Region from February 2, 2017, to August 31, 2019, and 
Vice-President Operations Western Region from April 20, 2016, to February 1, 2017. 

Previous to these roles, he was General Manager Operations U.S. West and General Manager Operations 
Central Division. He was named CP's 2016 Railroader of the Year. Prior to joining CP in October 2013, Mr. 
Redd  worked  for  over  20  years  at  Kansas  City  Southern  Railway  where  he  held  a  variety  of  leadership 
positions in network and field operations. Mr. Redd holds bachelor and Master of Business Administration 
("MBA") degrees from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Nadeem Velani, 48
Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial 
Officer

Mr.  Velani  has  been  Executive  Vice-President  and  CFO  of  CP  since  October  17,  2017.  Previous  to  this 
appointment, he was the Vice-President and CFO of CP from October 19, 2016, to October 16, 2017, Vice-
President, Investor Relations from October 28, 2015, and Assistant Vice-President, Investor Relations from 
March 11, 2013.

Prior to joining CP, Mr. Velani spent 15 years at CN where he worked in a variety of positions in Strategic 
and Financial Planning, Investor Relations, Sales and Marketing, and the Office of the President and CEO.

Mr.  Velani  holds  a  Bachelor  of  Economics  degree  from  Western  University  and  an  MBA  in  Finance/
International Business from McGill University.

John Brooks, 50
Executive Vice-President and Chief 
Marketing Officer

Mr. Brooks has been Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer ("CMO") of CP since February 14, 
2019.  Previous  to  this  appointment,  he  was  the  Senior  Vice-President  and  CMO  of  CP  from  February  14, 
2017, to February 13, 2019. He has worked in senior marketing roles at CP since he joined the Company in 
2007, most recently as Vice-President, Marketing – Bulk and Intermodal. 

Mr.  Brooks  began  his  railroading  career  with  UP  and  later  helped  start  I&M  Rail  Link,  LLC,  which  was 
purchased by DM&E in 2002. Mr. Brooks was Vice-President, Marketing at DM&E prior to it being acquired 
by CP in 2007.

With more than 20 years in the railroading business, Mr. Brooks brings a breadth of experience to the CMO 
role that is pivotal to CP's continued and future success. 

 
54  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Laird Pitz, 76
Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer

Mr.  Pitz  has  been  Senior  Vice-President  and  Chief  Risk  Officer  ("CRO")  of  CP  since  October  17,  2017. 
Previously, he was the Vice-President and CRO of CP from October 29, 2014, to October 16, 2017, and the 
Vice-President, Security and Risk Management of CP from April 2014 to October 2014.

James Clements, 51
Senior Vice-President, Strategic Planning and 
Technology Transformation

Prior to joining CP, Mr. Pitz was retired from March 2012 to April 2014, and Vice-President, Risk Mitigation 
of CN from September 2003 to March 2012.

Mr.  Pitz,  a  Vietnam  War  veteran  and  former  Federal  Bureau  of  Investigation  special  agent,  is  a  40-year 
career  professional  who  has  directed  strategic  and  operational  risk  mitigation,  security  and  crisis 
management functions for companies operating in a wide range of fields, including defence, logistics and 
transportation.

Mr.  Clements  has  been  Senior  Vice-President,  Strategic  Planning  and  Technology  Transformation  since 
September  1,  2019.  Before  this  appointment,  he  was  the  Vice-President,  Strategic  Planning  and 
Transportation  Services  of  CP  from  2014.  Mr.  Clements  has  responsibilities  that  include  strategic  network 
issues, Network Service Centre operations and Information Services. In addition, he has responsibility for all 
of CP’s facilities and real estate across North America.

Mr. Clements has been at CP for 26 years and his previous experience covers a wide range of areas of CP’s 
business, including car management, finance, joint facilities agreements, logistics, grain marketing and sales 
in both Canada and the U.S., as well as marketing and sales responsibility for various other lines of business 
at CP.

He  has  an  MBA  in  Finance/International  Business  from  McGill  University  and  a  Bachelor  of  Science  in 
Computer Science and Mathematics from McMaster University.

Jeffrey Ellis, 53
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Mr. Ellis has been Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of CP since November 23, 2015. Mr. Ellis is 
accountable  for  the  overall  strategic  leadership,  oversight  and  performance  of  the  legal,  corporate 
secretarial, government relations and public affairs functions of CP in Canada and the U.S.

Mike Foran, 47
Vice-President, Market Strategy and
Asset Management

Michael Redeker, 60
Vice-President and Chief Information Officer

Chad Rolstad, 44
Vice-President, Human Resources and Chief 
Culture Officer

Prior to joining CP in 2015, Mr. Ellis was the U.S. General Counsel at BMO Financial Group ("BMO"). Before 
joining BMO in 2006, Mr. Ellis was with the law firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Toronto, Ontario.

Mr. Ellis has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Toronto, Juris Doctor and 
Master  of  Laws  degrees  from  Osgoode  Hall  Law  School,  and  an  MBA  from  the  Richard  Ivey  School  of 
Business, Western University. Mr. Ellis is a member of the bars of New York, Illinois, Ontario and Alberta.

Mr. Foran has been Vice-President, Market Strategy and Asset Management of CP since February 14, 2017. 
His prior roles with CP include Vice-President Network Transportation from 2014 to 2017, Assistant Vice-
President  Network  Transportation  from  2013  to  2014,  and  General  Manager  –  Asset  Management  from 
2012  to  2013.  In  over  20  years  at  CP,  Mr.  Foran  has  worked  in  operations,  business  development, 
marketing and general management.

Mr. Foran holds an Executive MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Bachelor of 
Commerce from the University of Calgary. 

Mr. Redeker has been Vice-President and Chief Information Officer ("CIO") of CP since October 15, 2012.

Prior to joining CP, Mr. Redeker was Vice-President and CIO of Alberta Treasury Branch from May 2007 to 
September 2012. He also spent 11 years at IBM Canada, where he focused on delivering quality information 
technology services within the financial services industry.

Mr.  Rolstad  has  been  Vice-President,  Human  Resources  since  February  14,  2019,  and  the  Chief  Culture 
Officer  since  September  1,  2019.  Previous  to  this  appointment,  he  was  Assistant  Vice-President,  Human 
Resources  of  CP  from  August  1,  2018,  to  February  13,  2019,  and  Assistant  Vice-President,  Strategic 
Procurement of CP from April 10, 2017, to July 31, 2018.

Prior  to  joining  CP,  Mr.  Rolstad  held  various  leadership  positions  at  BNSF  Railway  in  marketing  and 
operations.  

Mr. Rolstad has a Bachelor of Science from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from Duke University.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  55

PART II

 
56  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER 
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Share Information
The Common Shares are listed on the TSX and on the NYSE under the symbol "CP". 

Share Capital
At February 17, 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there were 133,297,236 Common Shares and no 
preferred shares issued and outstanding, which consists of 13,779 holders of record of the Common Shares. In addition, CP has a Management Stock Option 
Incentive  Plan  (“MSOIP”),  under  which  key  officers  and  employees  are  granted  options  to  purchase  the  Common  Shares.  Each  option  granted  can  be 
exercised for one Common Share. At February 17, 2021, 1,521,584 options were outstanding under the MSOIP and stand-alone option agreements entered 
into with Mr. Keith Creel. There are 733,836 options available to be issued by the Company’s MSOIP in the future. CP has a Director's Stock Option Plan 
(“DSOP”), under which directors are granted options to purchase Common Shares. There are no outstanding options under the DSOP, which has 340,000 
options available to be issued in the future. 

Stock Performance Graph
The following graph provides an indicator of cumulative total shareholder return on the Common Shares, of an assumed investment of $100, as compared to 
the TSX 60 Index (“TSX 60”), the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index (“S&P 500”), and the peer group index (comprising CN, KCS, UP, NS and CSX) on 
December 31 for each of the years indicated. The values for the assumed investments depicted on the graph and in the table have been calculated assuming 
that any dividends are reinvested.

Value of $100 InvestmentComparison of Five-Year Cumulative ReturnCPTSX 60S&P 500Peer Group201520162017201820192020050100150200250300  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  57

Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities 
CP has established a share repurchase program which is further described in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 20 Shareholders' 
equity. The following table presents the number of Common Shares repurchased during each month of the fourth quarter of 2020 and the average price paid 
by CP for the repurchase of such Common Shares. 

2020

October 1 to October 31

November 1 to November 30

December 1 to December 31

Ending Balance

Total number of 
shares purchased(1)

Average price paid 
per share(2)

Total number of shares 
purchased as part of 
publicly announced plans or 
programs

Maximum number of shares 
that may yet be purchased 
under the plans or 
programs

230,195  $ 

451,299   

640,000   

1,321,494  $ 

407.28   

425.89   

429.23   

424.26   

230,195   

451,299   

640,000 

1,321,494 

1,620,676 

1,169,377 
nil(3)
N/A

(1) Includes shares repurchased but not yet cancelled at quarter end.
(2) Includes brokerage fees.
(3) The Company's NCIB expired on December 19, 2020. At the time of expiration, 529,377 Common Shares authorized for repurchase had not yet been purchased by the Company.

 
 
 
 
 
58  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents as of, and for the years ended, December 31, selected financial data related to the Company’s financial results for the last five 
fiscal years. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results 
of Operations and Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 

For information regarding historical exchange rates, please see Impact of Foreign Exchange on Earnings in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(in millions, except per share data, percentage and ratios)

2020 

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

Financial Performance and Liquidity

Total revenues

Operating income
Adjusted operating income(1)
Net income
Adjusted income(1)
Basic earnings per share ("EPS")

Diluted EPS
Adjusted diluted EPS(1)
Dividends declared per share

Cash provided by operating activities

Cash used in investing activities 

Cash used in financing activities
Free cash(1)
Financial Position

Total assets

Total long-term debt, including current portion

Total shareholders' equity

Financial Ratios
Operating ratio(2)
Adjusted operating ratio(1)
Return on average shareholders' equity(3)
Adjusted return on invested capital ("Adjusted ROIC")(1)
Dividend payout ratio(4)
Adjusted dividend payout ratio(1)
Long-term debt to Net income ratio(5)
Adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio(1)

$ 

7,710 

$ 

7,792 

$ 

7,316 

$ 

6,554 

$ 

3,311 

3,311 

2,444 

2,403 

18.05 

17.97 

17.67 

3.5600 

2,802 

(2,030) 

(764) 

1,157 

3,124 

3,124 

2,440 

2,290 

17.58 

17.52 

16.44 

3.1400 

2,990 

(1,803) 

(1,111) 

1,357 

2,831 

2,831 

1,951 

2,080 

13.65 

13.61 

14.51 

2.5125 

2,712 

(1,458) 

(1,542) 

1,289 

2,519 

2,468 

2,405 

1,666 

16.49 

16.44 

11.39 

2.1875 

2,182 

(1,295) 

(700) 

874 

6,232 

2,411 

2,411 

1,599 

1,549 

10.69 

10.63 

10.29 

1.8500 

2,089 

(1,069) 

(1,493) 

1,007 

$  23,640 

$ 

22,367 

$ 

21,254 

$ 

20,135 

$ 

19,221 

9,771 

7,319 

8,757 

7,069 

8,696 

6,636 

8,159 

6,437 

8,684 

4,626 

 57.1% 

 57.1% 

 34.0% 

 16.7% 

 19.8% 

 20.1% 

4.0 

2.5 

 59.9% 

 59.9% 

 35.6% 

 16.9% 

 17.9% 

 19.1% 

3.6 

2.4 

 61.3% 

 61.3% 

 29.8% 

 16.2% 

 18.5% 

 17.3% 

4.5 

2.6 

 61.6% 

 62.4% 

 43.4% 

 14.7% 

 13.3% 

 19.2% 

3.4 

2.6 

 61.3% 

 61.3% 

 33.9% 

 14.0% 

 17.4% 

 18.0% 

5.4 

2.9 

(1) These  measures  have  no  standardized  meanings  prescribed  by  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United  States  of  America  ("GAAP")  and,  therefore,  may  not  be 
comparable  to  similar  measures  presented  by  other  companies.  These  measures  are  defined  and  reconciled  in  Non-GAAP  Measures  of  this  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

(2) Operating  ratio  is  defined  as  operating  expenses  divided  by  revenues,  further  discussed  in  Results  of  Operations  of  this  Item  7.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial 

Condition and Results of Operations.

(3) Return on average shareholders' equity is defined as Net income divided by average shareholders' equity, averaged between the beginning and ending balance over a rolling 12-month 

period, further discussed in Results of Operations of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(4) Dividend payout ratio is defined as dividends declared per share divided by Diluted EPS, further discussed in Liquidity and Capital Resources of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and 

Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(5) Long-term debt to Net income ratio is defined as long-term debt, including long-term debt maturing within one year, divided by Net income, further discussed in Liquidity and Capital 

Resources of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  59

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION 
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

INDEX TO MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive Summary

2021 Outlook

Performance Indicators

Results of Operations

Impact of Foreign Exchange on Earnings

Impact of Fuel Price on Earnings

Impact of Share Price on Earnings

Operating Revenues

Operating Expenses

Other Income Statement Items

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Share Capital

Non-GAAP Measures

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Critical Accounting Estimates

Forward-Looking Statements

Page

60

60

61

64

67

68

68

69

75

78

79

84

84

92

93

97

 
60  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes in Item 8. 
Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data,  and  other  information  in  this  annual  report.  Except  where  otherwise  indicated,  all  financial  information 
reflected herein is expressed in Canadian dollars.

Executive Summary
2020 Results
• Financial performance – In 2020, CP reported Diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $17.97, a 3% increase from $17.52 in 2019. Adjusted diluted 
EPS increased to $17.67, a 7% increase compared to $16.44 in 2019. CP’s commitment to service and operational efficiency produced an Operating ratio 
of  57.1%.  Adjusted  diluted  EPS  is  defined  and  reconciled  in  Non-GAAP  Measures  and  discussed  further  in  Results  of  Operations  of  this  Item  7. 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

• Total revenues – CP’s Total revenues decreased by 1% to $7,710 million in 2020 from $7,792 million in 2019, driven primarily by the unfavourable 
impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel prices, and lower volumes as measured by revenue ton-miles ("RTMs") primarily due to 
the impacts of COVID-19. This decrease was partially offset by higher liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, and higher freight 
rates.

• Operating performance – Average train weight increased by 6% to 9,707 tons and average train length increased by 7% to 7,929 feet due to 
improvements in operating plan efficiency, in each case compared to 2019. These metrics are discussed further in Performance Indicators of this Item 7. 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following table compares 2020 outlook to actual results:

Outlook

RTM growth
Mid-single-digit growth 

Adjusted diluted EPS(1)
High single-digit to low double-digit growth

Capital expenditures
Approximately $1.60 billion

Revised quarterly and updated at the end 
of the third quarter to low single-digit 
decrease

Revised quarterly and updated at the end of the 
third quarter to at least mid-single-digit 
Adjusted diluted EPS growth from full-year 
2019 Adjusted diluted EPS of $16.44.

Actual outcomes

RTMs decreased by 2,487 million, or 2% Adjusted diluted EPS growth of 7% to $17.67

$1.67 billion

(1)  Adjusted  diluted  EPS  is  defined  and  reconciled  in  Non-GAAP  Measures  of  this  Item  7.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations.  As 

described in the 2021 Outlook section below, CP had not calculated an outlook for Diluted EPS in 2020.

The  updates  in  RTM  growth  and  Adjusted  diluted  EPS  expectations  were  based  on  the  impacts  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  on  consumer  demand  in  the 
following lines of business: Energy, chemicals and plastics, Metals, minerals and consumer products, and Automotive. CP revised its outlook quarterly given 
the evolving nature of impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 Outlook
With a 2021 plan that encompasses profitable sustainable growth, CP expects high single-digit RTM growth and double-digit Adjusted diluted EPS growth. 
CP’s  expectations  for  Adjusted  diluted  EPS  growth  in 2021  are  based  on  Adjusted  diluted  EPS  of $17.67  in  2020.  For  the  purposes  of  this  outlook,  CP 
assumes  an  effective  tax  rate  of 24.6  percent.  CP  estimates  other  components  of  net  periodic  benefit  recovery  to  increase  by  approximately $40  million 
versus 2020. As CP continues to invest in service, productivity and safety, the Company plans to invest approximately $1.55 billion in capital programs in 
2021.  Capital  programs  are  defined  and  discussed  further  in  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources  of  this  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

Adjusted diluted EPS is defined and discussed further in Non-GAAP Measures and in Forward-Looking Statements of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion 
and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations.  Although  CP  has  provided  a  forward-looking  Non-GAAP  measure  (Adjusted  diluted  EPS), 
management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, the forward-looking Adjusted diluted EPS to the most comparable GAAP measure, due to 
unknown variables and uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value. In recent 
years, CP has recognized changes in income tax rates and a change to an uncertain tax item. These or other similar, large unforeseen transactions affect 
diluted EPS but may be excluded from CP’s Adjusted diluted EPS. Additionally, the Canadian dollar-to-U.S. exchange rate is unpredictable and can have a 
significant  impact  on  CP’s  reported  results  but  may  be  excluded  from  CP’s  Adjusted  diluted  EPS.  In  particular,  CP  excludes  the  foreign  exchange  ("FX") 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  61

impact  of  translating  the  Company’s  debt  and  lease  liabilities  from  Adjusted  diluted  EPS.  Please  see  Forward-Looking  Statements  of  this  Item  7. 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.

Performance Indicators
The following table lists the key measures of the Company’s operating performance:

% Change

2020 vs. 
2019

2019 vs. 
2018

 (3) 

 (8) 

 6 

 7 

 2 

 (1) 

 2 

 (1) 

 (7) 

 (6) 

 (7) 

 2 

 2 

 — 

 1 

 (6) 

 3 

 2 

 — 

 3 

 (1) 

 (1) 

 (3) 

 (4) 

For the year ended December 31
Operations Performance

Gross ton-miles (“GTMs”) (millions)

Train miles (thousands)

Average train weight – excluding local traffic (tons)

Average train length – excluding local traffic (feet)

Average terminal dwell (hours)

Average train speed (miles per hour, or "mph")

Locomotive productivity (GTMs / operating horsepower, or "GTMs/OHP")

2020

2019

2018

  272,360    280,724    275,362 

30,324   

32,924   

32,312 

9,707   

9,129   

7,929   

7,388   

6.5   

22.0   

207   

6.4   

22.2   

202   

9,100 

7,313 

6.8 

21.5 

198 

Fuel efficiency (U.S. gallons of locomotive fuel consumed /1,000 GTMs)

0.942   

0.955   

0.953 

Total Employees and Workforce

Total employees (average)

Total employees (end of period)

Workforce (end of period)
Safety Indicators(1)

12,168   

13,103   

12,756 

11,890   

12,694   

12,840 

11,904   

12,732   

12,866 

FRA personal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours

FRA train accidents per million train-miles

1.11   

0.96   

1.42   

1.06   

1.47 

1.10 

 (22) 

 (9) 

(1) FRA personal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours for the year ended December 31, 2018, previously reported as 1.48, was restated to 1.47 in this report. This restatement reflects new 

information available within specified periods stipulated by the FRA but that exceed the Company's financial reporting timeline.

Operations Performance
These key measures are used by management as comparisons to historical operating results and in the planning process to facilitate decisions that continue 
to  drive  further  productivity  improvements  in  the  Company's  operations.  Results  of  these  key  measures  reflect  how  effective  CP’s  management  is  at 
controlling costs and executing the Company’s operating plan and strategy. Continued monitoring of these key measures ensures that the Company can take 
appropriate actions to ensure the delivery of superior service and be able to grow its business at low incremental cost.

A GTM is defined as the movement of one ton of train weight over one mile. GTMs are calculated by multiplying total train weight by the distance the train 
moved. Total train weight comprises the weight of the freight cars, their contents, and any inactive locomotives. An increase in GTMs indicates additional 
workload. GTMs for 2020 were 272,360 million, a 3% decrease compared with 280,724 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily driven by decreased 
volumes of crude, Coal, and frac sand. This decrease was partially offset by increased volumes of Grain, Potash, and Fertilizers and sulphur. 

GTMs in 2019 were 280,724 million, a 2% increase compared with 275,362 million in 2018. This increase was primarily driven by increased volumes of 
Energy, chemicals and plastics and Intermodal. This increase was partially offset by decreased volumes of Potash, frac sand, and Coal.

Train miles are defined as the sum of the distance moved by all trains operated on the network. Train miles provide a measure of the productive utilization 
of our network. A smaller increase in train miles relative to increases in volumes, as measured by RTMs, and/or workload, as measured by GTMs, indicates 
improved  train  productivity.  Train  miles  for  2020  were  30,324  thousands,  a  decrease  of  8%  compared  with  32,924  thousands  in  2019.  This  decrease 
reflects the impact of a 3% decrease in workload (GTMs), as well as a 6% increase in average train weights. 

Train miles in 2019 were 32,924, an increase of 2% compared with 32,312 thousands in 2018. This reflects the impact of higher GTMs in 2019.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Average train weight is defined as the average gross weight of CP trains, both loaded and empty. This excludes trains in short-haul service, work trains 
used to move CP’s track equipment and materials, and the haulage of other railways’ trains on CP’s network. An increase in average train weight indicates 
improved asset utilization and may also be the result of moving heavier commodities. Average train weight of 9,707 tons in 2020 increased by 578 tons, or 
6% compared with 9,129 tons in 2019. This increase was a result of improvements in operating plan efficiency, continued improvements in operational 
efficiency  due  to  moving longer  and  heavier  export  potash  and  Grain  trains,  and  improved  winter  operating  conditions  in  the  first  quarter  of 2020.  This 
increase was partially offset by moving lower volumes of heavier commodities such as Canadian coal and crude. Improvements for Grain trains were driven 
by the High Efficiency Product ("HEP") train model, which is an 8,500-foot train model that features the new high-capacity grain hopper cars and increased 
grain carrying capacity.

Average train weight of 9,129 tons in 2019 increased by 29 tons from 9,100 tons in 2018. This slight increase was a result of improvements in operating 
plan efficiency. This increase was partially offset by the implementation of CP's winter contingency plan in the first quarter of 2019 resulting in shorter and 
lighter trains within the operating plan.

Average train length is defined as the average total length of CP trains, both loaded and empty. This includes all cars and locomotives on the train and is 
calculated as the sum of each car or locomotive's length multiplied by the distance travelled, divided by train miles. This excludes trains in short-haul service, 
work  trains  used  to  move  CP's  track  equipment  and  materials,  and  the  haulage  of  other  railroads'  trains  on  CP's  network.  An  increase  in  average  train 
length indicates improved asset utilization. Average train length of 7,929 feet in 2020 increased by 541 feet, or 7%, compared with 7,388 feet in 2019. This 
increase was a result of improvements in operating plan efficiency and continued improvements in operational efficiency due to moving longer Grain and 
export  potash  trains.  This  increase  was  partially  offset  by  moving  lower  volumes  of  commodities  such  as  Canadian  coal,  which  move  in  longer  trains. 
Improvements for Grain trains were driven by the 8,500-foot HEP train model.

Average train length of 7,388 feet in 2019 increased by 75 feet, or 1%, from 7,313 feet in 2018. This was a result of improvements in operating plan 
efficiency  and  increased  Intermodal  volumes  which  move  on  longer  trains.  This  increase  was  partially  offset  by  the  implementation  of  CP's  winter 
contingency plan in the first quarter of 2019 resulting in shorter and lighter trains within the operating plan.

Average terminal dwell is defined as the average time a freight car resides within terminal boundaries expressed in hours. The timing starts with a train 
arriving at the terminal, a customer releasing the car to the Company, or a car arriving at interchange from another railroad. The timing ends when the train 
leaves, a customer receives the car from CP, or the freight car is transferred to another railroad. Freight cars are excluded if they are being stored at the 
terminal or used in track repairs. A decrease in average terminal dwell indicates improved terminal performance resulting in faster cycle times and improved 
railcar utilization. Average terminal dwell of 6.5 hours in 2020 increased by 2% from 6.4 hours in 2019. This unfavourable increase was a result of aligning 
the operating plan to demand in order to maintain network efficiencies in the last three quarters of 2020. Aligning the operating plan to demand resulted in 
increased average train weight, average train length, and increased locomotive productivity. 

Average terminal dwell of 6.4 hours in 2019 favourably decreased by 6% from 6.8 hours in 2018. This favourable decrease was due to improved network 
fluidity.

Average  train  speed  is  defined  as  a  measure  of  the  line-haul  movement  from  origin  to  destination  including  terminal  dwell  hours.  It  is  calculated  by 
dividing the total train miles travelled by the total train hours operated. This calculation does not include delay time related to customers or foreign railways 
and excludes the time and distance travelled by: i) trains used in or around CP’s yards; ii) passenger trains; and iii) trains used for repairing track. An increase 
in  average  train  speed  indicates  improved  on-time  performance  resulting  in  improved  asset  utilization.  Average  train  speed  was  22.0  mph  in  2020,  a 
decrease  of  1%,  from  22.2  mph  in  2019.  This  decrease  in  speed  was  a  result  of  aligning  the  operating  plan  to  demand  in  order  to maintain  network 
efficiencies in the last three quarters of 2020, partially offset by improved winter operating conditions in the first quarter of 2020. Aligning the operating  
plan to demand resulted in increased average train weight, average train length, and increased locomotive productivity.

Average train speed in 2019 was 22.2 mph, an increase of 3%, from 21.5 mph in 2018. This increase in speed was due to the completion of network 
infrastructure projects, partially offset by the impact of harsh winter operating conditions and network disruptions in the first quarter of 2019. 

Locomotive  productivity  is  defined  as  the  daily  average  GTMs  divided  by  daily  average  operating  horsepower.  Operating  horsepower  excludes  units 
offline, tied up or in storage, or in use on other railways, and includes foreign units online. An increase in locomotive productivity indicates more efficient 
locomotive utilization and may also be the result of moving heavier commodities. Locomotive productivity was 207 GTMs/OHP in 2020, an increase of 5 
GTMs/OHP, or 2%, compared to 202 GTMs/OHP in 2019. This increase was primarily due to improvements in operating plan efficiency as a result of aligning 
the operating plan to demand.

Locomotive productivity was 202 GTMs/OHP in 2019, an increase of 4 GTMs/OHP, or 2%, compared to 198 GTMs/OHP in 2018. This increase was primarily 
due to improvements in operating plan efficiency as a result of aligning the operating plan to demand.

Fuel efficiency is defined as U.S. gallons of locomotive fuel consumed per 1,000 GTMs. Fuel consumed includes gallons from freight, yard and commuter 
service but excludes fuel used in capital projects and other non-freight activities. An improvement in fuel efficiency indicates operational cost savings and 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  63

CP's  commitment  to  corporate  sustainability  through  a  reduction  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions  intensity.  Fuel  efficiency  for  2020  was  0.942  U.S. 
gallons/1,000 GTMs, an improvement of 1% compared to 2019. This improvement was primarily due to improved winter operating conditions in the first 
quarter of 2020. Fuel efficiency for 2019 of 0.955 U.S. gallons/1,000 GTMs was flat compared to 2018. 

Total Employees and Workforce
An employee is defined as an individual currently engaged in full-time, part-time, or seasonal employment with CP while workforce is defined as total 
employees  plus  contractors  and  consultants.  The  Company  monitors  employment  and  workforce  levels  in  order  to  efficiently  meet  service  and  strategic 
requirements. The number of employees is a key driver to total compensation and benefits costs.

The average number of total employees for 2020 decreased by 935, or 7%, compared with 2019. This decrease was primarily due to more efficient resource 
planning, including furloughs associated with the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, partially offset by the addition of CMQ employees. The total 
number of employees as at December 31, 2020 was 11,890, a decrease of 804, or 6%, compared to 12,694 as at December 31, 2019, due to reduced 
workload as measured in GTMs and more efficient resource planning.

The average number of total employees for 2019 increased by 347, or 3%, compared to 2018. This increase was primarily due to growth in workload as 
measured in GTMs. The total number of employees as at December 31, 2019 was 12,694, a decrease of 146, or 1%, compared to 12,840 as at December 
31, 2018, due to more efficient resource planning and reduced workload in the fourth quarter, partially offset by the addition of CMQ Canada employees.

The total workforce as at December 31, 2020 was 11,904, a decrease of 828, or 7%, compared to 12,732 as at December 31, 2019, due to more efficient 
resource planning. 

The total workforce as at December 31, 2019 was 12,732, a decrease of 134, or 1%, compared to 12,866 as at December 31, 2018, due to more efficient 
resource planning.

Safety Indicators
Safety is a key priority and core strategy for CP’s management, employees, and Board of Directors. Personal injuries and train accidents are indicators of the 
effectiveness of the Company's safety systems, and are used by management to evaluate and, as necessary, alter the Company's safety systems, procedures, 
and  protocols.  Each  measure  follows  U.S  Federal  Railroad  Administration  ("FRA")  reporting  guidelines,  which  can  result  in  restatement  after  initial 
publication to reflect new information available within specified periods stipulated by the FRA but that exceed the Company's financial reporting timeline.

The  FRA  personal  injuries  per  200,000  employee-hours  frequency  is  the  number  of  personal  injuries,  multiplied  by 200,000  and  divided  by  total 
employee hours. Personal injuries are defined as injuries that require employees to lose time away from work, modify their normal duties or obtain medical 
treatment  beyond  minor  first  aid.  FRA  employee-hours  are  the  total  hours  worked,  excluding  vacation  and  sick  time,  by  all  employees,  excluding 
contractors. The FRA personal injuries per 200,000 employee-hours frequency for CP was 1.11 in 2020, compared with 1.42 in 2019 and 1.47 in 2018.

The FRA train accidents per million train-miles frequency is the number of train accidents, multiplied by 1,000,000 and divided by total train miles. 
Train accidents included in this metric meet or exceed the FRA reporting threshold of U.S. $10,700 in damage. The FRA train accidents per million train-miles 
frequency for CP was 0.96 in 2020 , compared with 1.06 in 2019 and 1.10 in 2018.

 
64  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Results of Operations
Income 

Operating income was $3,311 million in 2020, an increase of $187 million, or 6%, from $3,124 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•

liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, and higher freight rates;
the efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization;
a gain of $68 million as a result of the remeasurement to fair value of the previously held equity investment in the Detroit River Tunnel Partnership 
("DRTP"); 
the impact of harsher winter operating conditions in 2019; and
decreased operating expense associated with lower casualty costs incurred in 2020.

•
•

This increase was partially offset by:
•
•
•
•

lower volumes as measured by RTMs; 
higher depreciation and amortization of $71 million (excluding FX); 
cost inflation; and
higher stock-based compensation of $37 million primarily driven by an increase in stock price. 

Operating income was $3,124 million in 2019, an increase of $293 million, or 10%, from $2,831 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•

higher freight rates;
the efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization;
the favourable impact of change in FX of $39 million; and
the favourable impact from changes in fuel prices of $38 million.

This increase was partially offset by:
•
•
•
•

increased operating expense associated with higher casualty costs in 2019 of $76 million (excluding FX);
higher stock-based compensation of $58 million;
cost inflation; and
increased weather related costs as a result of harsh winter operating conditions in the first quarter of 2019.

Operating Income(in millions of $)2,8313,1243,3112018201920201,0001,5002,0002,5003,000  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  65

*Adjusted income is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Net income was $2,444 million in 2020, an increase of $4 million, from $2,440 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•

higher Operating income;
a deferred tax recovery relating to a tax return filing election for the state of North Dakota; and
a provision for an uncertain tax item of a prior period in 2019. 

This increase was partially offset by:
•
•
•

an income tax recovery associated with changes in tax rates in 2019;
lower FX translation gain on U.S. dollar-denominated debt and lease liabilities compared to 2019; and
lower other components of net periodic benefit recovery.

Net income was $2,440 million in 2019, an increase of $489 million, or 25%, from $1,951 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•

higher Operating income;
FX translation gains on debt and lease liabilities in 2019 compared to FX translation losses on debt in 2018; and 
a higher income tax recovery associated with changes in tax rates. 

This increase was partially offset by higher income taxes due to higher taxable income and a provision for an uncertain tax item of a prior period. 

Adjusted income, defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations,  was  $2,403  million  in  2020,  an  increase  of  $113  million,  or  5%,  from  $2,290  million  in  2019.  This  increase  was  primarily  due  to  higher 
Operating income, partially offset by lower other components of net periodic benefit recovery.

Adjusted income was $2,290 million in 2019, an increase of $210 million, or 10%, from $2,080 million in 2018. This increase was due to the same factors 
discussed above for the increase in Net income, except that Adjusted income excludes FX translation gains and losses on debt and lease liabilities, income 
tax recoveries associated with changes in tax rates, and a provision for an uncertain tax item of a prior period.

Net Income (in millions of $)1,9512,4402,4442018201920201,0001,5002,0002,500Adjusted Income (in millions of $) *2,0802,2902,4032018201920201,0001,5002,0002,500 
66  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Diluted Earnings per Share 

*Adjusted diluted EPS is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Diluted EPS was $17.97 in 2020, an increase of $0.45, or 3%, from $17.52 in 2019. This increase was due to a lower average number of outstanding 
Common Shares due to the Company's share repurchase program, and higher Net income.

Diluted  EPS  was $17.52  in 2019,  an  increase  of  $3.91,  or  29%,  from $13.61  in 2018.  This increase  was  due  to  higher  Net  income  and  lower  average 
number of outstanding Common Shares due to the Company's share repurchase program.

Adjusted  diluted  EPS,  defined  and  reconciled  in  Non-GAAP  Measures  of  this  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and 
Results of Operations, was $17.67 in 2020, an increase of $1.23, or 7%, from $16.44 in 2019. Adjusted diluted EPS was $16.44 in 2019, an increase of 
$1.93, or 13%, from $14.51 in 2018. These increases were due to higher Adjusted income and lower average number of outstanding Common Shares due 
to the Company's share repurchase program. 

Operating Ratio

The  Operating  ratio  provides  the  percentage  of  revenues  used  to  operate  the  railway.  A  lower  percentage  normally  indicates  higher  efficiency  in  the 
operation of the railway. The Company’s Operating ratio was 57.1% in 2020, a 280 basis point improvement from 59.9% in 2019. This improvement was 
primarily due to:
•
•

liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, and higher freight rates;
the favourable impact of changes in fuel prices;

Diluted EPS ($)13.6117.5217.97201820192020051015Adjusted Diluted EPS ($) *14.5116.4417.67201820192020051015Operating Ratio (%)61.359.957.120182019202050556065  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  67

•
•

the efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization; and
a gain as a result of the remeasurement to fair value of the previously held equity investment in DRTP.

This improvement was partially offset by:
•
•
•

higher depreciation and amortization;
cost inflation; and 
higher stock-based compensation.

The Company’s Operating ratio was 59.9% in 2019, a 140 basis point improvement from 61.3% in 2018. This improvement was primarily due to: 
•
•
•

higher freight rates;
the favourable impact of changes in fuel prices; and
the efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization.

This improvement was partially offset by:
•
•
•

increased operating expense associated with higher casualty costs in 2019;
higher stock-based compensation; and
cost inflation.

Return on Average Shareholders' Equity and Adjusted Return on Invested Capital 
Return on average shareholders' equity and Adjusted return on invested capital ("Adjusted ROIC") are measures used by management to determine how 
productively the Company uses its long-term capital investments, representing critical indicators of good operating and investment decisions. Adjusted ROIC 
is also an important performance criteria in determining certain elements of the Company's long-term incentive plan.  

Return on average shareholders' equity was 34.0% in 2020, a 160 basis point decrease compared to 35.6% in 2019. This decrease was due to higher 
average shareholders' equity due to accumulated Net income, partially offset by the impact of the Company's share repurchase program.

Return on average shareholders' equity was 35.6% in 2019, a 580 basis point increase compared to 29.8% in 2018. This increase was due to higher Net 
income.  This  increase  was  partially  offset  by  higher  average  shareholders'  equity  due  to  accumulated  Net  income,  partially  offset  by  the  impact  of  the 
Company's share repurchase program.

Adjusted ROIC was 16.7% in 2020, a 20 basis point decrease compared to 16.9% in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to higher average long-term 
debt, partially offset by higher Operating income. 

Adjusted ROIC was 16.9% in 2019, a 70 basis point increase compared to 16.2% in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher Operating income. This 
increase was partially offset by the increase in adjusted average invested capital primarily due to higher Adjusted income, partially offset by lower Common 
Shares due to the Company's share repurchase program. 

Adjusted  ROIC  is  a  Non-GAAP  measure,  which  is  defined  and  reconciled  from  Return  on  average  shareholders'  equity,  the  most  comparable  measure 
calculated in accordance with GAAP, in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations.

Impact of Foreign Exchange on Earnings
Fluctuations in FX affect the Company’s results because U.S. dollar-denominated revenues and expenses are translated into Canadian dollars. U.S. dollar-
denominated revenues and expenses increase (decrease) when the Canadian dollar weakens (strengthens) in relation to the U.S. dollar. 

On February 12, 2021, the noon buying rate certified for customs purposes by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York was U.S. $1.00 = $1.27 Canadian 
dollars.

The  following  tables  set  forth,  for  the  periods  indicated,  the  average  exchange  rate  between  the  Canadian  dollar  and  the  U.S.  dollar  expressed  in  the 
Canadian  dollar  equivalent  of  one  U.S.  dollar,  the  period  end  exchange  rates,  and  the  high  and  low  exchange  rates  for  the  periods  indicated.  Average 
exchange rates are calculated by using the exchange rates on the last day of each full month during the relevant period. These rates are based on the noon 
buying  rate  certified  for  customs  purposes  by  the  U.S.  Federal  Reserve  Bank  of  New  York  set  forth  in  the  H.10  statistical  release  of  the  Federal  Reserve 
Board.

Average exchange rates (Canadian/U.S. dollar)

For the year ended – December 31

For the three months ended – December 31

2020

1.34  $ 

1.30  $ 

$ 

$ 

2019

1.33  $ 

1.32  $ 

2018

1.30  $ 

1.32  $ 

2017

1.30  $ 

1.27  $ 

2016

1.33 

1.33 

 
68  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Exchange rates (Canadian/U.S. dollar)

Beginning of year – January 1

Beginning of quarter – April 1

Beginning of quarter – July 1

Beginning of quarter – October 1

End of year – December 31

High/Low exchange rates (Canadian/U.S. dollar)

High

Low

2020

1.30  $ 

1.41  $ 

1.36  $ 

1.33  $ 

1.28  $ 

2020

1.45  $ 

1.27  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019

2018

2017

1.36  $ 

1.33  $ 

1.31  $ 

1.32  $ 

1.30  $ 

2019

1.36  $ 

1.30  $ 

1.25  $ 

1.29  $ 

1.32  $ 

1.29  $ 

1.36  $ 

2018

1.37  $ 

1.23  $ 

1.34  $ 

1.33  $ 

1.30  $ 

1.25  $ 

1.25  $ 

2017

1.37  $ 

1.21  $ 

2016

1.38 

1.30 

1.29 

1.31 

1.34 

2016

1.46 

1.25 

In 2020, the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar resulted in an increase in total revenues of $33 million, an increase in total operating expenses of $23 million 
and an increase in net interest expense of $4 million. In 2019, the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar resulted in an increase in total revenues of $87 million, an 
increase in total operating expenses of $48 million and an increase in net interest expense of $10 million.

The impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar on the Company's results is discussed further in Item 7A. 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, Foreign Exchange Risk.

Impact of Fuel Price on Earnings
Fluctuations in fuel prices affect the Company’s results because fuel expense constitutes a significant portion of CP's operating costs. As fuel prices fluctuate, 
there will be a timing impact on earnings, as discussed further in Item 1. Business, Operations, Fuel Cost Adjustment Program and Item 1A. Risk Factors, 
Volatility Risks. 

Average Fuel Price (U.S. dollars per U.S. gallon)

For the year ended – December 31

For the three months ended – December 31

$ 

$ 

2020

1.90  $ 

1.91  $ 

2019

2.49  $ 

2.53  $ 

2018

2.72 

2.71 

The impact of fuel price on earnings includes the impacts of provincial and federal carbon taxes and levies recovered and paid, on revenues and expenses, 
respectively.

In 2020, the favourable impact of fuel prices on Operating income was $25 million. Lower fuel prices resulted in a decrease in total operating expenses of 
$195  million.  Lower  fuel  prices,  partially  offset  by  the  timing  of  recoveries  from  CP's  fuel  cost  adjustment  program  and  increased  carbon  tax  recoveries, 
resulted in a decrease in total revenues of $170 million from 2019. In 2019, the impact of lower fuel prices resulted in a decrease in Total revenues of $39 
million and a decrease in Total operating expenses of $77 million.

Impact of Share Price on Earnings
Fluctuations in the Common Share price affect the Company's operating expenses because share-based liabilities are measured at fair value. The Company's 
Common Shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") with ticker symbol "CP". The following 
tables indicate the opening and closing Common Share price on the TSX and the NYSE for each quarter and the change in the price of the Common Shares 
on the TSX and the NYSE for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Toronto Stock Exchange (in Canadian dollars)

Opening Common Share price, as at January 1

Ending Common Share price, as at March 31

Ending Common Share price, as at June 30

Ending Common Share price, as at September 30

Ending Common Share price, as at December 31

Change in Common Share price for the year ended December 31

2020

331.03  $ 

310.55  $ 

345.32  $ 

405.05  $ 

441.53  $ 

110.50  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019

242.24  $ 

275.34  $ 

308.43  $ 

294.42  $ 

331.03  $ 

88.79  $ 

2018

229.66 

227.20 

240.92 

273.23 

242.24 

12.58 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  69

New York Stock Exchange (in U.S. dollars)

Opening Common Share price, as at January 1

Ending Common Share price, as at March 31

Ending Common Share price, as at June 30

Ending Common Share price, as at September 30

Ending Common Share price, as at December 31

Change in Common Share price for the year ended December 31

2020

254.95  $ 

219.59  $ 

255.34  $ 

304.43  $ 

346.69  $ 

91.74  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019

177.62  $ 

206.03  $ 

235.24  $ 

222.46  $ 

254.95  $ 

77.33  $ 

2018

182.76 

176.50 

183.02 

211.94 

177.62 

(5.14) 

In 2020, the impact of the change in Common Share prices resulted in an increase in stock-based compensation expense of $58 million compared to $42 
million in 2019, and $2 million in 2018.

The impact of share price on stock-based compensation is discussed further in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, Share 
Price Impact on Stock-Based Compensation.

Operating Revenues

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)(1)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(2)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(2)

$  7,541  $  7,613  $  7,152  $ 

Non-freight revenues (in millions)

169   

179   

164   

Total revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

$  7,710  $  7,792  $  7,316  $ 

  2,708.4    2,766.4    2,739.8   

(58.0) 

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

  151,891    154,378    154,207   

(2,487) 

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

$  2,784  $  2,752  $  2,611  $ 

32 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

4.96   

4.93   

4.64   

0.03 

(72) 

(10) 

(82) 

 (1) 

 (6) 

 (1) 

 (2) 

 (2) 

 1 

 1 

 (1)  $ 

461 

 (6)   

15 

 (1)  $ 

476 

N/A  

26.6 

N/A  

 1  $ 

 — 

171 

141 

0.29 

 6 

 9 

 7 

 1 

 — 

 5 

 6 

 5 

 8 

 5 

N/A

N/A

 4 

 5 

(1) Freight revenues include fuel surcharge revenues of $297 million in 2020, $464 million in 2019 and $492 million in 2018. Fuel surcharge revenues include recoveries of carbon taxes, 

levies, and obligations under cap-and-trade programs.

(2) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The Company’s revenues are primarily derived from transporting freight. Changes in freight volumes generally contribute to corresponding changes in freight 
revenues and certain variable expenses, such as fuel, crew costs, and equipment rents. Non-freight revenue is generated from other arrangements, including 
contracts with passenger service operators and logistical services; leasing of certain assets; and switching fees. 

Freight Revenues
Freight revenues were $7,541 million in 2020, a decrease of $72 million, or 1%, from $7,613 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to lower 
volumes as measured by RTMs. This decrease was partially offset by higher freight revenue per revenue ton-mile.

Freight revenues were $7,613 million in 2019, an increase of $461 million, or 6%, from $7,152 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher 
freight revenue per revenue ton-mile. 

RTMs
RTMs are defined as the movement of one revenue-producing ton of freight over a distance of one mile. RTMs measure the relative weight and distance of 
rail  freight  moved  by  the  Company.  RTMs  for  2020  were  151,891  million,  a  decrease  of  2,487  million,  compared  with  154,378  million  in  2019.  This 
decrease was mainly attributable to lower volumes of crude, Coal and frac sand. This decrease was partially offset by higher volumes of Grain, Potash and 
Fertilizers and sulphur.  

RTMs for 2019 were 154,378 million, an increase of 171 million compared with 154,207 million in 2018. This increase was mainly attributable to increased 
shipments of Energy, chemicals and plastics and Intermodal, partially offset by decreased shipments of Potash, frac sand and Coal.

 
 
 
 
70  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile
Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile is defined as freight revenue per revenue-producing ton of freight over a distance of one mile. This is an indicator of 
yield. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile was 4.96 cents in 2020, an increase of 0.03 cents, or 1%, from 4.93 cents in 2019. This increase was primarily 
due to higher liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in FX of $33 
million. This increase was partially offset by the unfavourable impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue, as a result of lower fuel prices of $170 million and 
moving lower volumes of Automotive, which has a higher freight revenue per revenue ton-mile compared to the corporate average.

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile was 4.93 cents in 2019, an increase of 0.29 cents, or 6%, from 4.64 cents in 2018. This increase was primarily due to 
higher liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in FX of $86 million. This 
increase was partially offset by the unfavourable impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue, as a result of lower fuel prices of $39 million.

Carloads
Carloads  are  defined  as  revenue-generating  shipments  of  containers  and  freight  cars.  Carloads  were  2,708.4  thousand  in  2020,  a  decrease  of  58.0 
thousand,  or  2%,  from  2,766.4  thousand  in  2019.  This  decrease  was  primarily  due  to  lower  volumes  of  crude,  Coal,  and  frac  sand.  This decrease  was 
partially offset by higher volumes of Grain and Potash.

Carloads were 2,766.4 thousand in 2019, an increase of 26.6 thousand, or 1%, from 2,739.8 thousand in 2018. This increase was mainly attributable to 
increased shipments of Energy, chemicals and plastics and Intermodal, partially offset by decreased shipments of frac sand and Potash.

Freight revenue per carload
Freight revenue per carload is defined as freight revenue per revenue-generating shipment of containers or freight cars. This is an indicator of yield. Freight 
revenue per carload was $2,784 in 2020, an increase of $32, or 1%, from $2,752 in 2019. This increase was primarily due to higher liquidated damages, 
including customer volume commitments, higher freight rates, and the  favourable impact of the change in FX of $33 million. This increase  was partially 
offset by the unfavourable impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue, as a result of lower fuel prices of $170 million.

Freight revenue per carload was $2,752 in 2019, an increase of $141, or 5%, from $2,611 in 2018. This increase was primarily due to liquidated damages, 
including customer volume commitments, higher freight rates, and the  favourable impact of the change in FX of $86 million. This increase  was partially 
offset by the unfavourable impact of lower fuel surcharge revenue, as a result of lower fuel prices of $39 million.

Non-freight Revenues
Non-freight revenues were $169 million in 2020, a decrease of $10 million, or 6%, from $179 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to lower 
revenue from passenger service operators. 

Non-freight revenues were $179 million in 2019, an increase of $15 million, or 9%, from $164 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher 
switching fees and logistical services revenue. 

Lines of Business
Grain

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$  1,829  $  1,684  $  1,566  $ 

145 

480.1   

431.4   

429.4   

48.7 

  41,747    36,941    36,856   

4,806 

$  3,810  $  3,904  $  3,645  $ 

(94) 

 9 

 11 

 13 

 (2) 

 (4) 

 8  $ 

118 

N/A  

N/A  

2.0 

85 

 (3)  $ 

259 

 (4)   

0.31 

 8 

 — 

 — 

 7 

 7 

 6 

N/A

N/A

 6 

 6 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

4.38   

4.56   

4.25   

(0.18) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Grain revenue was $1,829 million in 2020, an increase of $145 million, or 9%, from $1,684 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to moving 
record volumes of Canadian grain, primarily to Vancouver and Thunder Bay, higher volumes of U.S. soybeans and corn to the U.S. Pacific Northwest, higher 
freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. This increase was partially offset by decreased freight revenue per ton-mile. Freight revenue per 

 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  71

revenue ton-mile decreased due to moving proportionately higher volumes of long haul soybeans and corn to U.S. Pacific Northwest, which also caused 
RTMs to increase more than carloads, and lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel prices.

Grain revenue was $1,684 million in 2019, an increase of $118 million, or 8%, from $1,566 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to increased 
freight revenue per revenue ton-mile, higher volumes of regulated Canadian grain, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. This increase was partially 
offset by lower volumes of U.S. grain, primarily corn, to the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased due to higher freight 
rates, primarily for regulated Canadian grain. 

Coal

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$ 

566  $ 

682  $ 

673  $ 

(116) 

260.4   

304.3   

304.3   

(43.9) 

  18,510    21,820    22,443   

(3,310) 

$  2,174  $  2,241  $  2,211  $ 

(67) 

 (17) 

 (14) 

 (15) 

 (3) 

 (2) 

 (17)  $ 

N/A  

9 

— 

N/A  

(623) 

 (3)  $ 

30 

 (2)   

0.13 

 1 

 — 

 (3) 

 1 

 4 

 1 

N/A

N/A

 1 

 4 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

3.06   

3.13   

3.00   

(0.07) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Coal revenue was $566 million in 2020, a decrease of $116 million, or 17%, from $682 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to lower volumes 
of Canadian coal primarily to Vancouver, driven by supply chain challenges at both the mines and the ports, lower volumes of U.S. coal to Wisconsin, and 
decreased freight revenue per revenue ton-mile. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile decreased due to the unfavourable impact of lower fuel surcharge 
revenue as a result of lower fuel prices.

Coal revenue was $682 million in 2019, an increase of $9 million, or 1%, from $673 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher freight 
revenue per revenue ton-mile. This increase was partially offset by lower volumes of Canadian coal, driven by supply chain challenges at both the mines and 
the  ports.  Freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile  increased  due  to  higher  freight  rates.  RTMs  decreased  while  carloads  remained  flat  due  to  moving 
proportionately higher volumes of short haul U.S. coal. 

Potash

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$ 

493  $ 

462  $ 

486  $ 

31 

162.9   

149.3   

158.4   

13.6 

  18,784    17,297    18,371   

1,487 

$  3,026  $  3,094  $  3,071  $ 

(68) 

 7 

 9 

 9 

 (2) 

 (2) 

 6  $ 

(24) 

N/A  

(9.1) 

N/A  

(1,074) 

 (3)  $ 

23 

 (2)   

0.02 

 (5) 

 (6) 

 (6) 

 1 

 1 

 (6) 

N/A

N/A

 — 

 — 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

2.62   

2.67   

2.65   

(0.05) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Potash revenue was $493 million in 2020, an increase of $31 million, or 7%, from $462 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to higher volumes 
of export potash following resolved international contract negotiations, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. This increase 
was partially offset by decreased freight revenue per revenue ton-mile due to lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel prices.

 
 
 
 
 
72  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Potash revenue was $462 million in 2019, a decrease of $24 million, or 5%, from $486 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to lower volumes 
of domestic potash driven by poor weather affecting the application seasons, and lower volumes of export potash driven by unresolved international contract 
negotiations. This decrease was partially offset by the favourable impact of the change in FX. 

Fertilizers and Sulphur

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$ 

290  $ 

250  $ 

243  $ 

61.6   

57.0   

58.1   

4,683   

3,846   

4,051   

40 

4.6 

837 

322 

 16 

 8 

 22 

 7 

 (5) 

 15  $ 

7 

N/A  

(1.1) 

N/A  

(205) 

 6  $ 

200 

 (5)   

0.50 

 3 

 (2) 

 (5) 

 5 

 8 

 1 

N/A

N/A

 3 

 7 

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

$  4,708  $  4,386  $  4,186  $ 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

6.19   

6.50   

6.00   

(0.31) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Fertilizers and sulphur revenue was $290 million in 2020, an increase of $40 million, or 16%, from $250 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to 
higher  volumes  of  dry  fertilizers,  sulphur,  and  wet  fertilizers,  as  well  as  the  favourable  impact  of  the  change  in  FX.  This  increase  was  partially  offset  by 
decreased freight revenue per revenue ton-mile due to lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel prices. RTMs increased more than carloads due 
to moving lower volumes of wet and dry fertilizers within Alberta, which has a shorter length of haul.

Fertilizers and sulphur revenue was $250 million in 2019, an increase of $7 million, or 3%, from $243 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to 
higher freight revenue per revenue ton-mile, the favourable impact of the change in FX, and higher volumes of wet fertilizer. This increase was partially 
offset by lower volumes of sulphur and dry fertilizer. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased due to higher freight rates. RTMs decreased more than 
carloads due to moving proportionately less wet fertilizer to the U.S. Midwest, which has a longer length of haul.

Forest Products

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$ 

328  $ 

304  $ 

284  $ 

71.6   

71.5   

68.6   

5,491   

4,974   

4,763   

24 

0.1 

517 

329 

 8 

 — 

 10 

 8 

 (2) 

 7  $ 

N/A  

N/A  

 7  $ 

20 

2.9 

211 

113 

 (3)   

0.15 

 7 

 4 

 4 

 3 

 3 

 5 

N/A

N/A

 1 

 1 

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

$  4,581  $  4,252  $  4,139  $ 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

5.97   

6.11   

5.96   

(0.14) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forest products revenue was $328 million in 2020, an increase of $24 million, or 8%, from $304 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to higher 
volumes of lumber and wood pulp, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. This increase was partially offset by decreased freight 
revenue per revenue ton-mile due to lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel prices. RTMs increased more than carloads due to moving higher 
volumes of panel products and wood pulp from Canada to the U.S., which has a longer length of haul.

Forest products revenue was $304 million in 2019, an increase of $20 million, or 7%, from $284 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher 
volumes  of  wood  pulp,  newsprint,  and  lumber,  increased  freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile,  and  the  favourable  impact  of  the  change  in  FX.  Freight 
revenue per revenue ton-mile increased due to higher freight rates.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  73

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$  1,519  $  1,534  $  1,243  $ 

(15) 

308.8   

358.1   

334.6   

(49.3) 

  24,172    29,356    27,830   

(5,184) 

$  4,919  $  4,284  $  3,715  $ 

635 

 (1) 

 (14) 

 (18) 

 15 

 20 

 (1)  $ 

291 

N/A  

23.5 

N/A  

1,526 

 15  $ 

569 

 20 

0.76 

 23 

 7 

 5 

 15 

 17 

 22 

N/A

N/A

 14 

 15 

Energy, Chemicals and Plastics

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

6.28   

5.23   

4.47   

1.05 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Energy,  chemicals  and  plastics  revenue  was $1,519  million  in 2020,  a  decrease  of  $15  million,  or  1%,  from $1,534  million  in 2019.  This decrease  was 
primarily due to lower volumes of crude, liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG"),  and biofuels as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and lower  fuel surcharge 
revenue as a result of lower fuel prices. The decrease was partially offset by increased freight revenue per revenue ton-mile and higher volumes of plastics.  
Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased primarily due to higher  liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, and  higher  freight 
rates. RTMs decreased more than carloads due to moving lower volumes of crude, which has a longer length of haul.

Energy, chemicals and plastics revenue was $1,534 million in 2019, an increase of $291 million, or 23%, from $1,243 million in 2018. This increase was 
primarily  due  to  increased  freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile,  higher  volumes  of  crude,  LPG,  fuel  oil,  and  other  refined  products,  and  the  favourable 
impact of the change in FX. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased primarily due to liquidated damages, including customer volume commitments, 
and  higher  freight  rates.  Carloads  increased  more  than  RTMs  due  to  moving  proportionately  less  long  haul  crude  to  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  and 
proportionately more short haul crude to Chicago, Illinois and Noyes, Minnesota.

Metals, Minerals and Consumer Products

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

$ 

629  $ 

752  $ 

797  $ 

(123) 

207.3   

234.3   

252.2   

(27.0) 

9,325    10,684    11,858   

(1,359) 

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

$  3,034  $  3,210  $  3,161  $ 

(176) 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

6.75   

7.04   

6.72   

(0.29) 

 (16) 

 (12) 

 (13) 

 (5) 

 (4) 

 (17)  $ 

(45) 

N/A  

(17.9) 

 (6) 

 (7) 

N/A  

(1,174) 

 (10) 

 (6)  $ 

49 

 (5)   

0.32 

 2 

 5 

 (8) 

N/A

N/A

 — 

 3 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Metals, minerals and consumer products revenue was $629 million in 2020, a decrease of $123 million, or 16%, from $752 million in 2019. This decrease 
was primarily due to moving lower volumes of frac sand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased freight revenue per revenue ton-mile. This 
decrease was partially offset by the favourable impact of the change in FX. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile decreased due to lower fuel surcharge 
revenue as a result of lower fuel prices.

Metals, minerals and consumer products revenue was $752 million in 2019, a decrease of $45 million, or 6%, from $797 million in 2018. This decrease was 
primarily  due  to  lower  volumes  of  frac  sand  and  steel.  This  decrease  was  partially  offset  by  increased  freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile,  and  the 
favourable impact of the change in FX. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased due to higher freight rates. Carloads decreased less than RTMs due to 
increased volumes of short haul metallic ore.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
74  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Automotive

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$ 

324  $ 

352  $ 

322  $ 

(28) 

106.1   

114.4   

108.3   

(8.3) 

1,321   

1,427   

1,347   

(106) 

 (8) 

 (7) 

 (7) 

 (1) 

 (1) 

 (9)  $ 

N/A  

N/A  

30 

6.1 

80 

 (2)  $ 

102 

 (1)   

0.75 

 9 

 6 

 6 

 3 

 3 

 7 

N/A

N/A

 1 

 1 

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

$  3,054  $  3,077  $  2,975  $ 

(23) 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

24.53   

24.67   

23.92   

(0.14) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Automotive revenue was $324 million in 2020, a decrease of $28 million, or 8%, from $352 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to lower 
volumes  caused  by  manufacturing  plant  shutdowns  in  the  second  quarter  of  2020  across  North  America  as  a  result  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  and 
decreased freight revenue per revenue-ton mile. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile decreased due to lower fuel surcharge revenue as a result of lower fuel 
prices. This decrease was partially offset by the onboarding of customers moving to and from Vancouver, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of 
the change in FX. 

Automotive revenue was $352 million in 2019, an increase of $30 million, or 9% from $322 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher 
volumes from Vancouver to eastern Canada, higher volumes from the U.S. to CP's new Vancouver Automotive Compound, increased freight revenue per 
revenue ton-mile, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile increased due to higher freight rates.

Intermodal

For the year ended December 31
Freight revenues (in millions)

Carloads (in thousands)

Revenue ton-miles (in millions)

Freight revenue per carload (in dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

$  1,563  $  1,593  $  1,538  $ 

  1,049.6    1,046.1    1,025.9   

(30) 

3.5 

  27,858    28,033    26,688   

(175) 

$  1,489  $  1,523  $  1,499  $ 

(34) 

 (2) 

 — 

 (1) 

 (2) 

 (1) 

 (2)  $ 

55 

N/A  

20.2 

N/A  

1,345 

 (2)  $ 

24 

 4 

 2 

 5 

 2 

 (2)   

(0.08) 

 (1) 

 3 

N/A

N/A

 1 

 (2) 

Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile (in cents)

5.61   

5.68   

5.76   

(0.07) 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Intermodal  revenue  was  $1,563  million  in  2020,  a  decrease  of  $30  million,  or  2%,  from  $1,593  million  in  2019.  This  decrease  was  primarily  due  to 
decreased  freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile  and  lower  volumes  of  international  intermodal  driven  by  the  completion  of  a  customer  contract.  This 
decrease  was partially offset by the onboarding of a new international intermodal customer, higher freight rates, and the favourable impact of the change in 
FX. Freight revenue per revenue ton-mile decreased due to lower fuel surcharge revenues as a result of lower fuel prices. 

Intermodal revenue was $1,593 million in 2019, an increase of $55 million, or 4%, from $1,538 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to higher 
international volumes through the Port of Vancouver, the onboarding of a new domestic retail customer, and the favourable impact of the change in FX. This  
increase was partially offset by a decrease in freight revenue per revenue ton-mile. RTMs increased more than carloads due to discontinuing expressway 
service  in  the  second  quarter  of 2018,  which  had  a  shorter  length  of  haul.  Freight  revenue  per  revenue  ton-mile  decreased  due  to  lower  fuel  surcharge 
revenue as a result of lower fuel prices.

 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  75

Operating Expenses

2020 Operating Expenses

2019 Operating Expenses

2018 Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31 
(in millions of Canadian dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Total 
Change

% 
Change

FX Adjusted 
% 
Change(1)

Compensation and benefits

$  1,560  $  1,540  $  1,468  $ 

20 

Fuel

Materials

Equipment rents

Depreciation and amortization

Purchased services and other

Total operating expenses

652   

216   

142   

779   

882   

210   

137   

706   

918   

(230) 

201   

130   

696   

6 

5 

73 

  1,050   

1,193   

1,072   

(143) 

$  4,399  $  4,668  $  4,485  $ 

(269) 

 1 

 (26) 

 3 

 4 

 10 

 (12) 

 (6) 

 1  $ 

 (27)   

 3 

 2 

 10 

 (12)   

 (6)  $ 

72 

(36) 

9 

7 

10 

121 

183 

 5 

 (4) 

 4 

 5 

 1 

 11 

 4 

 4 

 (6) 

 4 

 3 

 1 

 10 

 3 

(1) FX adjusted % change does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. FX 

adjusted % change is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Operating expenses were $4,399 million in 2020, a decrease of $269 million, or 6%, from $4,668 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

the favourable impact of $195 million from lower fuel prices;
efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization;
a gain of $68 million as a result of the remeasurement to fair value of the previously held equity investment in DRTP;
reduced variable expenses from lower volumes; 
the impact of harsher winter operating conditions in 2019; and
lower casualty costs incurred in 2020.

This decrease was partially offset by:
•
•
•
•

higher depreciation and amortization of $71 million (excluding FX);
cost inflation; 
higher stock-based compensation of $37 million primarily driven by an increase in stock price; and
the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $23 million.

Operating expenses were $4,668 million in 2019, an increase of $183 million, or 4%, from $4,485 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
•
•

increased operating expense associated with higher casualty costs incurred in 2019 of $76 million (excluding FX);
higher stock-based compensation of $58 million primarily driven by an increase in stock price; 
cost inflation;
the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $48 million; 
increased weather related costs as a result of harsh winter operating conditions in the first quarter of 2019; and
increased variable expenses from higher volumes.

Purchasedservicesand other:24%Compensationand benefits: 35%Fuel: 15%Materials:5%Equipmentrents: 3%Depreciationandamortization:18%Purchasedservicesand other:26%Compensationand benefits: 33%Fuel: 19%Materials:4%Equipmentrents: 3%Depreciationandamortization:15%Purchasedservicesand other:24%Compensationand benefits: 33%Fuel: 20%Materials:4%Equipmentrents: 3%Depreciationandamortization:16% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
76  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

This increase was partially offset by the favourable impact from changes in fuel prices of $77 million and the efficiencies generated from improved operating 
performance and asset utilization.

Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits expense includes employee wages, salaries, fringe benefits, and stock-based compensation. Compensation and benefits expense 
was $1,560 million in 2020, an increase of $20 million, or 1%, from $1,540 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
•

the impact of wage and benefit inflation;
increased stock-based compensation of $37 million primarily driven by the impact of changes in share price; 
higher defined benefit ("DB") pension and post-retirement benefits current service cost of $33 million; 
a bonus paid to frontline employees of $17 million; and
unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $5 million.

This increase was partially offset by:
•
•
•
•

labour efficiencies generated from improved operating performance and asset utilization;
reduced training costs;
lower volume variable expense as a result of decreased workload as measured by GTMs; and
the impact of weather related costs as a result of harsh winter operating conditions in the first quarter of 2019. 

Compensation and benefits expense was $1,540 million in 2019, an increase of $72 million, or 5% from $1,468 million in 2018. This increase was primarily 
due to:
•
•
•
•
•

higher stock-based compensation of $58 million primarily driven by an increase in stock price;
the impact of wage and benefit inflation;
the impact of harsher winter operating conditions driven by operational inefficiencies and increased track labour and overtime;
the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $11 million; and
higher volume variable expenses as a result of an increase in workload as measured by GTMs.

This increase was partially offset by:
lower incentive compensation;
•
lower DB pension and post-retirement benefits current service costs of $14 million; and
•
labour efficiencies.
•

Fuel
Fuel expense consists mainly of fuel used by locomotives and includes provincial, state, and federal fuel taxes. Fuel expense was $652 million in 2020, a 
decrease of $230 million, or 26%, from $882 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily due to:
•
•
•

the favourable impact of lower fuel prices of $195 million;
a decrease in workload, as measured by GTMs; and
an improvement in fuel efficiency of 1% from improved winter operating conditions in the first quarter of 2020. 

This decrease was partially offset by the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $8 million.

Fuel expense was $882 million in 2019, a decrease of $36 million, or 4%, from $918 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily due to the favourable 
impact from lower fuel prices of $77 million.

This decrease was partially offset by an increase in workload, as measured by GTMs, and the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $18 million.

Materials
Materials  expense  includes  the  cost  of  material  used  for  maintenance  of  track,  locomotives,  freight  cars,  and  buildings  as  well  as  software  sustainment. 
Materials  expense  was  $216  million  in  2020,  an  increase  of  $6  million,  or  3%,  from  $210  million  in  2019.  This  increase  was  primarily  due  to  higher 
spending on locomotive maintenance and overhauls, and track maintenance.

Materials  expense  was  $210  million  in  2019,  an  increase  of  $9  million,  or  4%,  from  $201  million  in  2018.  This  increase  was  primarily  due  to  higher 
locomotive maintenance and higher non-locomotive fuel costs.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  77

Equipment Rents
Equipment rents expense includes the cost associated with using other companies’ freight cars, intermodal equipment, and locomotives, net of rental income 
received from other railways for the use of CP’s equipment. Equipment rents expense was $142 million in 2020, an increase of $5 million, or 4%, from $137 
million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to lower receipts for CP freight cars used by other railways and the unfavourable impact of the change in FX 
of $2 million, partially offset by lower usage of pooled freight cars as a result of lower volumes.

Equipment rents expense was $137 million in 2019, an increase of $7 million, or 5%, from $130 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due to greater 
usage of pooled freight cars and the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $3 million.

Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense represents the charge associated with the use of track and roadway, buildings, rolling stock, information systems, 
and other depreciable assets. Depreciation and amortization expense was $779 million for 2020, an increase of $73 million, or 10%, from $706 million in 
2019. This increase was primarily due to: 
•
•
•

a higher asset base, as a result of the capital program spending in 2020; 
the impact of depreciation studies and other adjustments made in 2019; and
the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $2 million.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $706 million for 2019, an increase of $10 million, or 1%, from $696 million in 2018. This increase was primarily 
due to a higher asset base, as a result of the capital program spending in 2019, and the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $4 million, partially 
offset by the impact of depreciation studies and other adjustments.

Purchased Services and Other

For the year ended December 31 
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Support and facilities
Track and operations
Intermodal
Equipment
Casualty
Property taxes
Other
Land sales
Total Purchased services and other

2020
271  $ 
282   
209   
113   
116   
126   
(57)   
(10)   
1,050  $ 

$ 

$ 

2019
278  $ 
278   
222   
125   
149   
133   
29   
(21)   
1,193  $ 

2018
264  $ 
268   
221   
143   
73   
124   
20   
(41)   
1,072  $ 

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

Total 
Change

% Change

Total 
Change

(7) 
4 
(13) 
(12) 
(33) 
(7) 
(86) 
11 
(143) 

 (3)  $ 
 1 
 (6) 
 (10) 
 (22) 
 (5) 
 (297) 
 (52) 
 (12)  $ 

14 
10 
1 
(18) 
76 
9 
9 
20 
121 

% Change
 5 
 4 
 — 
 (13) 
 104 
 7 
 45 
 (49) 
 11 

Purchased services and other expense encompasses a wide range of third-party costs, including contractor and consulting fees, locomotive and freight car 
repairs performed by third parties, property and other taxes, intermodal pickup and delivery services, casualty expense, expenses for joint facilities, and gains 
on land sales. Purchased services and other expense was $1,050 million in 2020, a decrease of $143 million, or 12%, from $1,193 million in 2019. This 
decrease was primarily due to:
•
•
•
•
•

a gain of $68 million as a result of the remeasurement to fair value of the previously held equity investment in DRTP, reported in Other.
lower expenses primarily due to reduced number and severity of casualty incidents, reported in Casualty;
reduced business travel and event cost due to COVID-19, reported in primarily Support and facilities and Track and operations;
a decrease in charges associated with contingencies of $10 million, reported in Other; and
reduced variable expenses from lower volumes, reported in Intermodal and Equipment.

This decrease was partially offset by lower gains on land sales of $11 million in 2020, reported in Land sales and the unfavourable impact of the change in 
FX of $6 million.

Purchased services and other expense was $1,193 million in 2019, an increase of $121 million, or 11%, from $1,072 million in 2018. This increase was 
primarily due to: 
•

an increase in number and severity of casualty incidents of $73 million (excluding FX), which were the result of difficult operating conditions due to 
weather in the first half of 2019, reported in Casualty;
lower gains on land sales of $20 million mainly as a result of the sale of the Bass Lake railway line in 2018;
the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $11 million;
an increase in legal fees, reported in Support and facilities;

•
•
•

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

•
•

higher snow removal and other weather related costs; and
higher property taxes due to higher tax rates.

This increase was partially offset by:
•
•

a decrease in charges associated with contingencies of $10 million, reported in Other;
a decrease in costs for locomotive warranty service agreements due to the insourcing of maintenance of certain locomotives in the company's fleet, 
reported in Equipment; and
costs related to labour disruptions in the second quarter of 2018, reported in Track and operations.

•

Other Income Statement Items
Other (Income) Expense 
Other  (income)  expense  consists  of  gains  and  losses  from  the  change  in  FX  on  debt  and  lease  liabilities  and  working  capital,  costs  related  to  financing, 
shareholder costs, equity income, and other non-operating expenditures. Other income was $7 million in 2020, a decrease of $82 million, or 92%, from $89 
million in the same period of 2019. This decrease was primarily due to a lower FX translation gain on U.S. dollar-denominated debt and lease liabilities of 
$80 million.

Other income was $89 million in 2019, a change of $263 million, or 151%, compared to an expense of $174 million in 2018. This change was primarily due 
to an FX translation gain on U.S. dollar-denominated debt and lease liabilities of $94 million, compared to an FX translation loss on U.S. dollar-denominated 
debt of $168 million in 2018.

FX  translation  gains  and  losses  on  debt  and  lease  liabilities  are  discussed  further  in  Non-GAAP  Measures  of  this  Item  7.  Management's  Discussion  and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Other Components of Net Periodic Benefit Recovery
Other components of net periodic benefit recovery were $342 million in 2020, a decrease of $39 million, or 10%, from $381 million in 2019. This decrease 
was primarily due to an increase in the recognized net actuarial loss resulting from a reduction in discount rate. 

Other components of net periodic benefit recovery were $381 million in 2019, a decrease of $3 million or 1%, from $384 million in 2018. This decrease was 
primarily due to higher interest cost on the benefit obligation.

Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense includes interest on long-term debt and finance leases. Net interest expense was $458 million in 2020, an increase of $10 million, or 
2%, from $448 million in 2019. This increase was primarily due to the unfavourable impacts of an increase in debt levels of $34 million and the change in 
FX of $4 million. This increase was partially offset by a reduction in interest related to long-term debt of $29 million as the result of a lower effective interest 
rate following the Company's debt refinancing completed in 2019 and 2020.

Net interest expense was $448 million in 2019, a decrease of $5 million, or 1%, from $453 million in 2018. This was primarily due to a net reduction in 
interest related to long-term debt of $21 million as the result of a lower effective interest rate following the Company's debt refinancing completed in 2018 
and 2019, partially offset by the unfavourable impact of the change in FX of $10 million and an increase in commercial paper interest of $6 million.

Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $758 million in 2020, an increase of $52 million, or 7%, from $706 million in 2019. The increase was primarily due to higher 
taxable  earnings  and  lower net  income  tax  recoveries  in  2020.  In  2020,  a  tax  filing  election  lowered  the  North  Dakota  rate  resulting  in  net  income  tax 
recoveries of $29 million compared to 2019 when net income tax recoveries were $88 million as a result of an Alberta corporate tax rate decrease, partially 
offset by a 2019 tax expense for an unrecognized tax benefit of $24 million.

Income tax expense was $706 million in 2019, an increase of $69 million, or 11%, from $637 million in 2018. The increase was due to:
•
•
•

higher taxable earnings; 
an increase in unrecognized tax benefits of $24 million; and
net income tax recoveries in 2018 of $21 million as a result of the Iowa and Missouri corporate tax rate decreases.

This increase was partially offset by net income tax recoveries in 2019 of $88 million as a result of an Alberta corporate tax rate decrease. 

The  effective  income  tax  rate  for  2020  was  23.66%  on  reported  income  and  24.61%  on  Adjusted  income.  The  effective  income  tax  rate  for 2019  was 
22.43% on reported income and 24.96% on Adjusted income. The effective income tax rate for 2018 was 24.64% on reported income and 24.55% on 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  79

Adjusted income. Adjusted income is a Non-GAAP measure, which is discussed further in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 

The Company expects a 2021 effective tax rate of 24.60%. The Company’s 2021 outlook for its effective tax rate is based on certain assumptions about 
events and developments that may or may not materialize, or that may be offset entirely or partially by new events and developments. These assumptions 
are discussed further in Item 1A. Risk Factors. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 
The Company believes adequate amounts of Cash and cash equivalents are available in the normal course of business to provide for ongoing operations, 
including the obligations identified in the tables in Contractual Commitments of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations. The Company is not aware of any trends or expected fluctuations in the Company's liquidity that would create any deficiencies. 
The Company's primary sources of liquidity include its Cash and cash equivalents, its commercial paper program, its bilateral letter of credit facilities, and its 
revolving credit facility. 

As at December 31, 2020, the Company had $147 million of Cash and cash equivalents compared to $133 million at December 31, 2019. 

As at December 31, 2020, the Company's revolving credit facility was undrawn (December 31, 2019 – undrawn), from a total available amount of U.S. $1.3 
billion. The agreement requires the Company to maintain a financial covenant in conjunction with the facility. As at December 31, 2020, the Company was 
in compliance with all terms and conditions of the credit facility arrangements and satisfied the financial covenant.

The Company has a commercial paper program that enables it to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of U.S. $1.0 billion 
in  the  form  of  unsecured  promissory  notes.  This  commercial  paper  program  is  backed  by  the  revolving  credit  facility.  As  at  December  31,  2020,  total 
commercial paper borrowings were U.S. $644 million (December 31, 2019 – $397 million).

As at December 31, 2020, under its bilateral letter of credit facilities, the Company had letters of credit drawn of $59 million from a total available amount 
of  $300 million (December 31, 2019 - $80 million). Under the bilateral letter of credit facilities, the Company has the option to post collateral in the form of 
Cash or cash equivalents, equal at least to the face value of the letter of credit issued. As at December 31, 2020, the Company did not have any collateral 
posted on its bilateral letter of credit facilities (December 31, 2019 – $nil). 

The following discussion of operating, investing, and financing activities describes the Company’s indicators of liquidity and capital resources. 

Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities was $2,802 million in 2020, a decrease of $188 million, or 6%, compared to $2,990 million in 2019. This decrease 
was primarily due to lower receipts from customers in advance of performing services, compared to 2019.

Cash provided by operating activities was $2,990 million in 2019, an increase of $278 million, or 10%, compared to $2,712 million in 2018. This increase 
was primarily due to advance receipts of consideration for service under freight contracts as well as higher cash generating income, compared to 2018.

Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $2,030 million in 2020, an increase of $227 million, or 13%, from $1,803 million in 2019. This increase was primarily 
due to the acquisition of DRTP in 2020, compared to the acquisition of CMQ in 2019.

Cash used in investing activities was $1,803 million in 2019, an increase of $345 million, or 24%, from $1,458 million in 2018. This increase was primarily 
due to:
•
•
•

the acquisition of CMQ; 
higher additions to properties; and 
lower proceeds from the sale of properties and other assets.

 
80  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Capital Programs

For the year ended December 31
(in millions of Canadian dollars, except for track miles and crossties)
Additions to capital

Track and roadway
Rolling stock (1)
Information systems software (2)
Buildings (3)
Other (3)

Total – accrued additions to capital

Less:

Non-cash transactions

Cash invested in additions to properties (per Consolidated Statements of 
Cash Flows)
Track installation capital programs

Track miles of rail laid (miles)

Track miles of rail capacity expansion (miles)

Crossties installed (thousands)

2020

2019

$ 

1,161  $ 

1,004  $ 

253   

45   

103   

126   

1,688   

393   

55   

58   

154   

1,664   

2018

965 

318 

53 

54 

184 

1,574 

17   

17   

23 

$ 

1,671  $ 

1,647  $ 

1,551 

301   

28   

1,417   

246   

11   

1,122   

281 

4 

1,015 

(1) Previously reported as Rolling Stock and containers. Containers of approximately $3 million in 2020 (2019 - $33 million; 2018 - $83 million) included in Other.
(2) Previously reported as Information Systems including hardware and software. Hardware of approximately $17 million in 2020 (2019 - $15 million; 2018 - $33 million) included in Other.
(3) Previously reported as Buildings and other, now separated.

Track and roadway expenditures include the replacement and enhancement of the Company’s track infrastructure. Of the $1,161 million additions in 2020 
(2019  –  $1,004  million),  approximately  $1,008  million  (2019  –  $918  million)  was  invested  in  the  renewal  of  depleted  assets,  namely  rail,  ties,  ballast, 
signals, and bridges. Approximately $25 million (2019 – $27 million) was spent on PTC compliance requirements and $128 million (2019 – $59 million) was 
invested in network improvements and growth initiatives.

Rolling stock investments encompass locomotives and railcars. In 2020, expenditures on locomotives were approximately $126 million (2019 – $174 million) 
and were focused on the continued re-investment in CP's existing locomotive fleet. Railcar investment of approximately $127 million (2019 – $219 million) 
was largely focused on renewal of depleted assets, including the acquisition of covered hoppers for grain transportation.

In  2020,  CP  invested  approximately  $45  million  (2019  –  $55  million)  in  information  systems  software  primarily  focused  on  rationalizing  and  enhancing 
business systems and providing real-time data. Investments in buildings were approximately $103 million (2019 - $58 million) included items such as facility 
upgrades, renovations and shop equipment. Other items were $126 million (2019 – $154 million) and included investments in modernizing core information 
systems hardware, containers, and vehicles.

For  2021,  CP  expects  to  invest  approximately  $1.55  billion  in  its  capital  programs,  which  will  be  financed  with  cash  generated  from  operations. 
Approximately 60%  to  65%  of  the  planned  capital programs  is  for  track  and  roadway.  Approximately 20%  is  expected  to  be  allocated  to  rolling  stock, 
including railcars and locomotive improvements. Approximately 5% is expected to be allocated to information services, and 10% to 15% is expected to be 
allocated to buildings and other.

Free Cash
CP generated positive Free cash of $1,157 million in 2020, a decrease of $200 million, or 15%, from $1,357 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily 
due to a decrease in cash provided by operating activities. 

CP generated positive Free cash of $1,357 million in 2019, an increase of $68 million, or 5%, from $1,289 million in 2018. This increase was primarily due 
to an increase in cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by higher additions to properties and lower proceeds from the sale of properties and 
other assets during 2019. 

Free cash is affected by seasonal fluctuations and by other factors including the size of the Company's capital programs. The 2020 capital programs are 
discussed above. Free cash is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition 
and Results of Operations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  81

Financing Activities
Cash used in financing activities was $764 million in 2020, a decrease of $347 million, or 31%, from $1,111 million in 2019. This decrease was primarily 
due to the issuances of U.S. $500 million 2.050% notes due March 5, 2030 and $300 million 3.050% notes due March 9, 2050 in 2020, compared to the 
issuance of $400 million 3.150% notes due March 13, 2029 in 2019, as well as the principal repayment of U.S. $350 million of the Company's 7.250% 
notes at maturity in May 2019. This was partially offset by higher payments to buy back shares under the Company's share repurchase program, lower net 
issuances of commercial paper during 2020, and higher dividends paid during 2020.

Cash used in financing activities was $1,111 million in 2019, a decrease of $431 million, or 28%, from $1,542 million in 2018. This decrease was primarily 
due to the net issuance of commercial paper in 2019 and a lower principal repayment of U.S. $350 million of the Company's 7.250% notes maturing May 
2019, compared to the principal repayments in 2018 of U.S. $275 million of the Company's 6.500% notes maturing May 2018 and $375 million of the 
Company's 6.250% medium term notes maturing June 2018. This was partially offset by the issuance of $400 million 3.150% notes due March 13, 2029 in 
2019 compared to the issuance of U.S. $500 million 4.000% notes due June 1, 2028 in 2018, and higher dividends paid during 2019.

Credit Measures
Credit ratings provide information relating to the Company’s operations and liquidity, and affect the Company’s ability to obtain short-term and long-term 
financing and/or the cost of such financing.

A mid-investment grade credit rating is an important measure in assessing the Company’s ability to maintain access to public financing and to minimize the 
cost of capital. It also affects the ability of the Company to engage in certain collateralized business activities on a cost-effective basis.

Credit ratings and outlooks are based on the rating agencies’ methodologies and can change from time to time to reflect their views of CP. Their views are 
affected by numerous factors including, but not limited to, the Company’s financial position and liquidity along with external factors beyond the Company’s 
control.

As  at  December  31,  2020,  CP's  credit  ratings  from  Standard  &  Poor's  Rating  Services  ("Standard  &  Poor's")  and  Moody's  Investor  Service  ("Moody's") 
remain unchanged from December 31, 2019. 

Credit ratings as at December 31, 2020(1)

Long-term debt

Standard & Poor's

Long-term corporate credit

Senior secured debt

Senior unsecured debt

Senior unsecured debt

Moody's

Commercial paper program

Standard & Poor's

Moody's

BBB+

A

BBB+

Baa1

A-2

P-2

Outlook

stable

stable

stable

stable

N/A

N/A

(1) Credit ratings are not recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell securities and do not address the market price or suitability of a specific security for a particular investor. Credit ratings 

are based on the rating agencies' methodologies and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating agencies.

Financial Ratios
The Long-term debt to Net income ratio was 4.0 in 2020, compared with 3.6 in 2019 and 4.5 in 2018. The increase in the ratio from 2019 to 2020 was 
primarily due to higher debt. The decrease in the ratio from 2018 to 2019 was due to higher Net income, partially offset by higher debt. 

The Adjusted net debt to Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA") ratio was 2.5 in 2020, compared with 2.4 in 
2019 and 2.6 in 2018. The increase in the ratio from 2019 to 2020 was primarily due to a higher debt balance, partially offset by an increase in Adjusted 
EBITDA. The decrease from 2018 to 2019 was primarily due to an increase in Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio is defined and 
reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Over the long 
term, CP targets an Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2.0 to 2.5.

 
82  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Although  CP  has  provided  a  target  Non-GAAP  measure  (Adjusted  net  debt  to  Adjusted  EBITDA  ratio),  management  is  unable  to  reconcile,  without 
unreasonable efforts, the target Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio to the most comparable GAAP measure (Long-term debt to Net income ratio), 
due to unknown variables and uncertainty related to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value. In 
recent years, CP has recognized changes in income tax rates and a change to an uncertain tax item. These or other similar, large unforeseen transactions 
affect Net income but may be excluded from CP’s Adjusted EBITDA. Additionally, the U.S.-to-Canada dollar exchange rate is unpredictable and can have a 
significant  impact  on  CP’s  reported  results  but  may  be  excluded  from  CP’s  Adjusted  EBITDA.  In  particular,  CP  excludes  the  FX  impact  of  translating  the 
Company’s  debt  and  lease  liabilities,  interest  and  taxes  from  Adjusted  EBITDA.  Please  see  Forward-Looking  Statements  in  this  Item  7.  Management’s 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.

Dividend Payout Ratio
The dividend payout ratio was 19.8% in 2020, compared with 17.9% in 2019 and 18.5% in 2018. The increase in the ratio from 2019 to 2020 was due to 
higher  dividends  declared  per  share,  partially  offset  by  higher  diluted  EPS.  The  decrease  in  the  ratio  from 2018  to  2019  was  due  to  higher  diluted  EPS, 
partially offset by higher dividends declared per share. 

The Adjusted dividend payout ratio was 20.1% in 2020, compared with 19.1% in 2019 and 17.3% in 2018. These increases were due to higher dividends 
declared per share, partially offset by higher Adjusted diluted EPS. Adjusted dividend payout ratio is defined and reconciled in Non-GAAP Measures of this 
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Over the long term, CP targets an Adjusted dividend payout 
ratio of 25.0% to 30.0%.

Although CP has provided a target Non-GAAP measure (Adjusted dividend payout ratio), management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, 
the target Adjusted dividend payout ratio to the most comparable GAAP measure (Dividend payout ratio), due to unknown variables and uncertainty related 
to future results. These unknown variables may include unpredictable transactions of significant value. In recent years, CP has recognized changes in income 
tax rates and a change to an uncertain tax item. These or other similar, large unforeseen transactions affect Diluted EPS but may be excluded from CP’s 
Adjusted diluted EPS. Additionally, the U.S.-to-Canada dollar exchange rate is unpredictable and can have a significant impact on CP’s reported results but 
may  be  excluded  from  CP’s  Adjusted  diluted  EPS.  In  particular,  CP  excludes  the  FX  impact  of  translating  the  Company’s  debt  and  lease  liabilities  from 
Adjusted diluted EPS. Please see Forward-Looking Statements in this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations for further discussion.

Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information
Canadian Pacific Railway Company (“CPRC”), a 100%-owned subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CPRL”), is the issuer of certain securities 
which  are  fully  and  unconditionally  guaranteed  by  CPRL  on  an  unsecured  basis.  The  other  subsidiaries  of  CPRC  do  not  guarantee  the  securities  and  are 
referred  to  below  as  the  “Non-Guarantor  Subsidiaries”.  The  following  is  a  description  of  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  guarantees  with  respect  to 
securities for which CPRC is the issuer and CPRL provides a full and unconditional guarantee.

As of December 31, 2020, CPRC has $7,448 million principal amount of debt securities outstanding due through 2115, and $45 million in perpetual 4% 
consolidated debenture stock, for all of which CPRL is the guarantor.

CPRL fully and unconditionally guarantees the payment of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities and consolidated debenture 
stock  issued  by  CPRC,  any  sinking  fund  or  analogous  payments  payable  with  respect  to  such  securities,  and  any  additional  amounts  payable  when  they 
become due, whether at maturity or otherwise. The guarantee is CPRL’s unsubordinated and unsecured obligation and ranks equally with all of CPRL’s other 
unsecured, unsubordinated obligations.

CPRL will be released and relieved of its obligations under the guarantees after obligations to the holders are satisfied in accordance with the terms of the 
respective instruments. 

Pursuant to Rule 13-01 of the SEC's Regulation S-X, the Company provides summarized financial and non-financial information of CPRC in lieu of providing 
separate financial statements of CPRC.

More  information  on  the  securities  under  this  guarantee  structure  can  be  found  in  Exhibit  22.1  List  of  Issuers  and  Guarantor  Subsidiaries  of  this  annual 
report.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  83

Summarized Financial Information

The  following  tables  present  summarized  financial  information  for  CPRC  (Subsidiary  Issuer)  and  CPRL  (Parent  Guarantor)  on  a  combined  basis  after 
elimination  of  (i)  intercompany  transactions  and  balances  among  CPRC  and  CPRL;  (ii)  equity  in  earnings  from  and  investments  in  the  Non-Guarantor 
Subsidiaries; and (iii) intercompany dividend income.

Statements of Income

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Total revenues

Total operating expenses
Operating Income (1)
Less: Other (2)
Income before income tax expense

Net Income

CPRC (Subsidiary Issuer) and CPRL (Parent Guarantor)

For the year ended 
December 31, 2020

For the year ended 
December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

5,797  $ 

3,263   

2,534   

127   

2,407   

1,792  $ 

5,662 

3,446 

2,216 

(13) 

2,229 

1,704 

(1) Includes net lease costs incurred from non-guarantor subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 of $435 million and $320 million, respectively. 
(2) Includes Other income, Other components of net periodic benefit recovery, and Net interest expense.

Balance Sheets

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Assets

Current Assets

Properties

Other non-current assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Long-term debt

Other non-current liabilities

CPRC (Subsidiary Issuer) and CPRL (Parent Guarantor)

As at December 31, 2020

As at December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

907  $ 

10,865   

1,151   

2,290  $ 

8,585   

2,981   

842 

10,287 

1,208 

1,833 

8,145 

2,711 

Excluded from the Income Statements and Balance Sheets above are the following significant intercompany transactions and balances that CPRC and CPRL 
have with the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries:

Cash Transactions with Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Dividend income from non-guarantor subsidiaries

Capital contributions to non-guarantor subsidiaries

Return of capital from non-guarantor subsidiaries

CPRC (Subsidiary Issuer) and CPRL (Parent Guarantor)

For the year ended 
December 31, 2020

For the year ended 
December 31, 2019

$ 

163  $ 

—   

198   

158 

(125) 

1,345 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
84  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Balances with Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Assets

Accounts Receivable, intercompany

Short-term advances to affiliates

Long-term advances to affiliates

Liabilities

Accounts payable, intercompany

Short-term advances from affiliates

Long-term advances from affiliates

CPRC (Subsidiary Issuer) and CPRL (Parent Guarantor)

As at December 31, 2020

As at December 31, 2019

$ 

$ 

327  $ 

20   

9   

179  $ 

3,658   

82   

318 

14 

7 

249 

3,700 

84 

Share Capital
At February 17, 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, there were 133,297,236 Common Shares and no 
preferred shares issued and outstanding, which consists of 13,779 holders of record of the Common Shares. In addition, CP has a Management Stock Option 
Incentive  Plan  (“MSOIP”),  under  which  key  officers  and  employees  are  granted  options  to  purchase  the  Common  Shares.  Each  option  granted  can  be 
exercised for one Common Share. At February 17, 2021, 1,521,584 options were outstanding under the MSOIP and stand-alone option agreements entered 
into with Mr. Keith Creel. There are 733,836 options available to be issued by the Company’s MSOIP in the future. CP has a Director's Stock Option Plan 
(“DSOP”), under which directors are granted options to purchase Common Shares. There are no outstanding options under the DSOP, which has 340,000 
options available to be issued in the future. 

Non-GAAP Measures
The Company presents Non-GAAP measures to provide a basis for evaluating underlying earnings and liquidity trends in the Company’s business that can be 
compared  with  the  results  of  operations  in  prior  periods.  In  addition,  these  Non-GAAP  measures  facilitate  a  multi-period  assessment  of  long-term 
profitability, allowing management and other external users of the Company’s consolidated financial information to compare profitability on a long-term 
basis, including assessing future profitability, with that of the Company’s peers. 

These  Non-GAAP  measures  have  no  standardized  meaning  and  are  not  defined  by  GAAP  and,  therefore,  may  not  be  comparable  to  similar  measures 
presented by other companies. The presentation of these Non-GAAP measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as 
superior to the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. 

Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The  Company  uses  adjusted  earnings  results  including Adjusted  income,  Adjusted  diluted  earnings  per  share,  Adjusted  operating  income,  and  Adjusted 
operating ratio to evaluate the Company’s operating performance and for planning and forecasting future business operations and future profitability. These 
Non-GAAP measures are presented in Item 6. Selected Financial Data and discussed further in other sections of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and 
Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations.  These  Non-GAAP  measures  provide  meaningful  supplemental  information  regarding  operating 
results because they exclude certain significant items that are not considered indicative of future financial trends either by nature or amount. As a result, 
these  items  are  excluded  for  management  assessment  of  operational  performance,  allocation  of  resources,  and  preparation  of  annual  budgets.  These 
significant  items  may  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  restructuring  and  asset  impairment  charges,  individually  significant  gains  and  losses  from  sales  of 
assets, the FX impact of translating the Company’s debt and lease liabilities (including borrowings under the credit facility), discrete tax items, changes in 
income tax rates, changes to an uncertain tax item, and certain items outside the control of management. These items may not be non-recurring. However, 
excluding  these  significant  items  from  GAAP  results  allows  for  a  consistent  understanding  of  the  Company's  consolidated  financial  performance  when 
performing  a  multi-period  assessment  including  assessing  the  likelihood  of  future  results.  Accordingly,  these  Non-GAAP  financial  measures  may  provide 
insight to investors and other external users of the Company's consolidated financial information.

In 2020, there were two significant items included in Net income as follows:
•

•

in the fourth quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $29 million due to a change relating to a tax return filing election for the state of North Dakota that 
favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 22 cents; and 
during the course of the year, a net non-cash gain of $14 million ($12 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt and lease liabilities that 
favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 9 cents as follows:
–

in the fourth quarter, a $103 million gain ($90 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 67 cents;

 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  85

–
–
–

in the third quarter, a $40 million gain ($38 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 29 cents;
in the second quarter, an $86 million gain ($82 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 59 cents; and
in the first quarter, a $215 million loss ($198 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by $1.44. 

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

In 2019, there were three significant items included in Net income as follows:
•

in the fourth quarter, a deferred tax expense of $24 million as a result of a provision for an uncertain tax item of a prior period that unfavourably 
impacted Diluted EPS by 17 cents; 
in the second quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $88 million due to the change in the Alberta provincial corporate income tax rate that favourably 
impacted Diluted EPS by 63 cents; and
during the course of the year, a net non-cash gain of $94 million ($86 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt and lease liabilities that 
favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 62 cents as follows:
–
–
–
–

in the fourth quarter, a $37 million gain ($32 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 22 cents;
in the third quarter, a $25 million loss ($22 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 15 cents;
in the second quarter, a $37 million gain ($34 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 24 cents; and
in the first quarter, a $45 million gain ($42 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 30 cents. 

In 2018, there were two significant items included in Net income as follows:
•

in  the  second  quarter,  a  deferred  tax  recovery  of  $21  million  due  to  reductions  in  the  Missouri  and  Iowa  state  tax  rates  that  favourably  impacted 
Diluted EPS by 15 cents; and 
during the course of the year, a net non-cash loss of $168 million ($150 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt that unfavourably 
impacted Diluted EPS by $1.05 as follows:  
–
–
–
–

in the fourth quarter, a $113 million loss ($103 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 72 cents;
in the third quarter, a $38 million gain ($33 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 23 cents; 
in the second quarter, a $44 million loss ($38 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 27 cents; and
in the first quarter, a $49 million loss ($42 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 29 cents. 

In 2017, there were five significant items included in Net income as follows:
•

in the second quarter, a charge on hedge roll and de-designation of $13 million ($10 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS 
by 7 cents; 
in the second quarter, an insurance recovery of a legal settlement of $10 million ($7 million after current tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 5 
cents; 
in the first quarter, a management transition recovery of $51 million related to the retirement of Mr. E. Hunter Harrison as CEO of CP ($39 million after 
deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 27 cents;  
during the course of the year, a net deferred tax recovery of $541 million as a result of changes in income tax rates as follows: 
–
–

in the fourth quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $527 million, primarily due to the U.S. tax reform, that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by $3.63;
in the third quarter, a deferred tax expense of $3 million as a result of the change in the Illinois state corporate income tax rate change that 
unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 2 cents;  
in the second quarter, a deferred tax recovery of $17 million as a result of the change in the Saskatchewan provincial corporate income tax rate 
that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 12 cents; and 

–

during  the  course  of  the  year,  a  net  non-cash gain  of  $186  million  ($162  million  after  deferred  tax)  due  to  FX  translation  of  debt  that favourably 
impacted Diluted EPS by $1.10 as follows: 
–
–
–
–

in the fourth quarter, a $14 million loss ($12 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 8 cents;
in the third quarter, a $105 million gain ($91 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 62 cents;  
in the second quarter, a $67 million gain ($59 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 40 cents; and 
in the first quarter, a $28 million gain ($24 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 16 cents. 

In 2016, there were two significant items included in Net income as follows:
•

in the third quarter, a $25 million expense ($18 million after current tax) related to a legal settlement that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 12 
cents; and
during the course of the year, a net non-cash gain of $79 million ($68 million after deferred tax) due to FX translation of debt that favourably impacted 
Diluted EPS by 46 cents as follows:
–
–
–
–

in the fourth quarter, a $74 million loss ($64 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 43 cents;
in the third quarter, a $46 million loss ($40 million after deferred tax) that unfavourably impacted Diluted EPS by 27 cents;
in the second quarter, an $18 million gain ($16 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by 10 cents; and
in the first quarter, a $181 million gain ($156 million after deferred tax) that favourably impacted Diluted EPS by $1.01.

 
86  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Reconciliation of GAAP Performance Measures to Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The following tables reconcile the most directly comparable measures presented in accordance with GAAP to the Non-GAAP measures presented in Item 6. 
Selected Financial Data and discussed further in other sections of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations:

Adjusted income is calculated as Net income reported on a GAAP basis adjusted for significant items.

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Net income as reported

Less significant items (pre-tax):

Legal settlement charge

Insurance recovery of legal settlement

Charge on hedge roll and de-designation

Management transition recovery

Impact of FX translation gain (loss) on debt and lease liabilities

Add:

Tax effect of adjustments(1)
Income tax rate changes

Provision for uncertain tax item

Adjusted income

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

2,444  $ 

2,440  $ 

1,951  $ 

2,405  $ 

2016

1,599 

—   

—   

—   

—   

14   

2   

(29)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

94   

8   

(88)   

24   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(168)   

(18)   

(21)   

—   

—   

10   

(13)   

51   

186   

36   

(541)   

—   

(25) 

— 

— 

— 

79 

4 

— 

— 

$ 

2,403  $ 

2,290  $ 

2,080  $ 

1,666  $ 

1,549 

(1) The tax effect of adjustments was calculated as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the applicable tax rate for the above items of 13.58%, 8.55%, 10.64%, 15.27% and 

7.17% for the years presented, respectively. The applicable tax rates reflect the taxable jurisdictions and nature, being on account of capital or income, of the significant items.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated using Adjusted income, as defined above, divided by the weighted-average diluted number of Common 
Shares outstanding during the period as determined in accordance with GAAP. 

Diluted earnings per share as reported

$ 

17.97  $ 

17.52  $ 

13.61  $ 

16.44  $ 

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

Less significant items (pre-tax):

Legal settlement charge

Insurance recovery of legal settlement

Charge on hedge roll and de-designation

Management transition recovery

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

Impact of FX translation gain (loss) on debt and lease liabilities

0.10   

0.67   

(1.17)   

Add:

Tax effect of adjustments(1)
Income tax rate changes
Provision for uncertain tax item

0.01   

(0.21)   

—   

0.05   

(0.63)   

0.17   

(0.12)   

(0.15)   

—   

—   

0.07   

(0.09)   

0.35   

1.27   

0.25   

(3.70)   

—   

2016

10.63 

(0.17) 

— 

— 

— 

0.53 

0.02 

— 

— 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$ 

17.67  $ 

16.44  $ 

14.51  $ 

11.39  $ 

10.29 

(1) The tax effect of adjustments was calculated as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the applicable tax rate for the above items of 13.58%, 8.55%, 10.64%, 15.27% and 

7.17% for the years presented, respectively. The applicable tax rates reflect the taxable jurisdictions and nature, being on account of capital or income, of the significant items.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  87

Adjusted operating income is calculated as Operating income reported on a GAAP basis less significant items. 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Operating income as reported

Less significant item:

Management transition recovery

Adjusted operating income

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

3,311  $ 

3,124  $ 

2,831  $ 

2,519  $ 

2016

2,411 

—   

—   

—   

51   

— 

$ 

3,311  $ 

3,124  $ 

2,831  $ 

2,468  $ 

2,411 

Adjusted operating ratio excludes those significant items that are reported within Operating income. 

Operating ratio as reported

Less significant item:

Management transition recovery

Adjusted operating ratio

2020

 57.1 %

— 

 57.1 %

For the year ended December 31

2019

 59.9 %

2018

 61.3 %

— 

— 

 59.9 %

 61.3 %

2017

 61.6 %

(0.8) 

 62.4 %

2016

 61.3 %

— 

 61.3 %

Adjusted ROIC
Adjusted ROIC is calculated as Adjusted return divided by Adjusted average invested capital. Adjusted return is defined as Net income adjusted for interest 
expense, tax effected at the Company’s adjusted annualized effective tax rate, and significant items in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, tax 
effected at the applicable tax rate. Adjusted average invested capital is defined as the sum of total Shareholders' equity, Long-term debt, and Long-term 
debt  maturing  within  one  year,  as  presented  in  the  Company's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  each  averaged  between  the  beginning  and  ending 
balance over a rolling 12-month period, adjusted for the impact of significant items, tax effected at the applicable tax rate, on closing balances as part of this 
average.  Adjusted  ROIC  excludes  significant  items  reported  in  the  Company's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  as  these  significant  items  are  not 
considered  indicative  of  future  financial  trends  either  by  nature  or  amount,  and  excludes  interest  expense,  net  of  tax,  to  incorporate  returns  on  the 
Company’s  overall  capitalization.  Adjusted  ROIC  is  a  performance  measure  that  measures  how  productively  the  Company  uses  its  long-term  capital 
investments, representing critical indicators of good operating and investment decisions made by management, and is an important performance criteria in 
determining certain elements of the Company's long-term incentive plan. Adjusted ROIC, which is reconciled below from Return on average shareholders' 
equity, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, is also presented in Item 6. Selected Financial Data and discussed further in 
Results of Operations of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, CP aligned the reconciliation sequence for Adjusted ROIC to start with Net income, with no change to the calculated 
Adjusted return.

Calculation of Return on average shareholders' equity

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except for percentages)
Net income as reported

Average shareholders' equity

Return on average shareholders' equity

For the year ended December 31

$ 

$ 

2020

2,444  $ 

7,194  $ 

 34.0% 

2019

2018

2017

2,440  $ 

1,951  $ 

2,405  $ 

6,853  $ 

6,537  $ 

5,539  $ 

 35.6% 

 29.8% 

 43.4% 

2016

1,599 

4,711 

 33.9% 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
88  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Return

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Net income as reported

Add: 

Net interest expense
Tax on interest(1)
Significant items (pre-tax):

Legal settlement charge

Insurance recovery of legal settlement

Charge on hedge roll and de-designation

Management transition recovery

Impact of FX translation (gain) loss on debt and lease liabilities

Tax on significant items(2)
Income tax rate changes

Provision for uncertain tax item 

Adjusted return

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

2,444  $ 

2,440  $ 

1,951  $ 

2,405  $ 

458   

(113)   

448   

(112)   

453   

(112)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(14)   

2   

(29)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(94)   

8   

(88)   

24   

—   

—   

—   

—   

168   

(18)   

(21)   

—   

473   

(126)   

—   

(10)   

13   

(51)   

(186)   

36   

(541)   

—   

2016

1,599 

471 

(124) 

25 

— 

— 

— 

(79) 

4 

— 

— 

$ 

2,748  $ 

2,626  $ 

2,421  $ 

2,013  $ 

1,896 

(1) Tax was calculated at the adjusted annualized effective tax rate of 24.61%, 24.96%, 24.55%, 26.42%, and 26.20% for each of the above items for the years presented, respectively.
(2) Tax was calculated as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the applicable tax rate of 13.58%, 8.55%, 10.64%, 15.27%, and 7.17% for each of the above items for the 

years presented, respectively. The applicable tax rates reflect the taxable jurisdictions and nature, being on account of capital or income, of the significant items.

Reconciliation of Average shareholders' equity to Adjusted average invested capital

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Average shareholders' equity

Average Long-term debt, including long-term debt maturing within one 
year

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

7,194  $ 

6,853  $ 

6,537  $ 

5,539  $ 

2016

4,711 

9,264   

8,726   

8,427   

8,422   

8,821 

$ 

16,458  $ 

15,579  $ 

14,964  $ 

13,961  $ 

13,532 

Less:

Significant items (pre-tax):

Legal settlement charge

Insurance recovery of legal settlement

Charge on hedge roll and de-designation

Management transition recovery

Tax on significant items(1)
Income tax rate changes

Provision for uncertain tax item

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

15   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

44   

(12)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

11   

—   

—   

5   

(7)   

26   

(5)   

270   

—   

(13) 

— 

— 

— 

4 

— 

— 

Adjusted average invested capital 

$ 

16,443  $ 

15,547  $ 

14,953  $ 

13,672  $ 

13,541 

(1) Tax was calculated as the pre-tax effect of the adjustments multiplied by the applicable tax rate of 15.27% and 7.17% for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The applicable tax rates reflect 

the taxable jurisdictions and nature, being on account of capital or income, of the significant items.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  89

Calculation of Adjusted ROIC

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except for percentages)
Adjusted return

Adjusted average invested capital

Adjusted ROIC

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

$ 

2,748 

$ 

2,626 

$ 

2,421 

$ 

2,013 

$ 

1,896 

$  16,443 

$  15,547 

$  14,953 

$  13,672 

$  13,541 

 16.7% 

 16.9% 

 16.2% 

 14.7% 

 14.0% 

Free Cash
Free cash is calculated as Cash provided by operating activities, less Cash used in investing activities, adjusted for changes in cash and cash equivalents 
balances  resulting  from  FX  fluctuations,  and  the  acquisitions  of  CMQ  and  DRTP.  Free  cash  is  a  measure  that  management  considers  to  be  a  valuable 
indicator  of  liquidity.  Free  cash  is  useful  to  investors  and  other  external  users  of  the  Company's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  as  it  assists  with  the 
evaluation of the Company's ability to generate cash to satisfy debt obligations and discretionary activities such as dividends, share repurchase programs, 
and other strategic opportunities. The acquisitions of CMQ and DRTP are not indicative of investment trends and have also been excluded from Free cash. 
Free cash should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, Cash provided by operating activities. Free cash is presented in Item 6. Selected 
Financial Data and discussed further in Liquidity and Capital Resources of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations.

Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Cash provided by operating activities

Cash used in investing activities

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

2,802  $ 

2,990  $ 

2,712  $ 

2,182  $ 

2016

2,089 

(2,030)   

(1,803)   

(1,458)   

(1,295)   

(1,069) 

Effect of foreign currency fluctuations on U.S. dollar-denominated cash and 
cash equivalents

6   

(4)   

11   

(13)   

(13) 

Less:

Settlement of forward starting swaps on debt issuance

Investment in Central Maine & Québec Railway

Investment in Detroit River Tunnel Partnership

—   

19   

(398)   

—   

(174)   

—   

(24)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

— 

— 

— 

Free cash

$ 

1,157  $ 

1,357  $ 

1,289  $ 

874  $ 

1,007 

Foreign Exchange Adjusted % Change
FX adjusted % change allows certain financial results to be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating 
period-to-period comparisons in the analysis of trends in business performance. Financial result variances at constant currency are obtained by translating 
the comparable period of the prior year results denominated in U.S. dollars at the foreign exchange rates of the current period. 

FX adjusted % changes in revenues are further used in calculating FX adjusted % change in freight revenue per carload and RTM. These items are presented 
in Operating Revenues of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
90  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Freight revenues by line of business

Grain

Coal

Potash

Fertilizers and sulphur

Forest products

Energy, chemicals and plastics
Metals, minerals, and consumer 
products

Automotive

Intermodal

Freight revenues

Non-freight revenues

Total revenues

Reported 
2020

Reported 
2019

Reported 
2018

Variance
due to 
FX

FX 
Adjusted 
2019

FX Adj. % 
Change

Variance
due to 
FX

FX 
Adjusted 
2018

FX Adj. % 
Change

2020 vs. 2019

2019 vs. 2018

$ 

1,829  $ 

1,684  $ 

1,566  $ 

8  $ 

1,692 

 8  $ 

19  $ 

1,585 

566   

493   

290   

328   

682   

462   

250   

304   

673   

486   

243   

284   

1,519   

1,534   

1,243   

629   

324   

1,563   

7,541   

169   

752   

352   

1,593   

7,613   

179   

797   

322   

1,538   

7,152   

164   

1   

2   

2   

3   

3   

7   

3   

4   

33   

—   

683 

464 

252 

307 

1,537 

759 

355 

1,597 

7,646 

179 

 (17) 

 6 

 15 

 7 

 (1) 

 (17) 

 (9) 

 (2) 

 (1) 

 (6) 

2   

6   

4   

5   

675 

492 

247 

289 

17   

1,260 

16   

7   

10   

86   

1   

813 

329 

1,548 

7,238 

165 

$ 

7,710  $ 

7,792  $ 

7,316  $ 

33  $ 

7,825 

 (1)  $ 

87  $ 

7,403 

 6 

 1 

 (6) 

 1 

 5 

 22 

 (8) 

 7 

 3 

 5 

 8 

 5 

FX  adjusted  %  changes  in  operating  expenses  are  discussed  in  Operating  Expenses  of  this  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial 
Condition and Results of Operations.

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Reported 
2020

Reported 
2019

Reported 
2018

2020 vs. 2019
FX 
Adjusted 
2019

Variance
due to 
FX

FX Adj. % 
Change

2019 vs. 2018
FX 
Adjusted 
2018

Variance
due to 
FX

FX Adj. % 
Change

Compensation and benefits

$ 

1,560  $ 

1,540  $ 

1,468  $ 

5  $ 

1,545 

 1  $ 

11  $ 

1,479 

Fuel

Materials

Equipment rents

Depreciation and amortization

652   

216   

142   

779   

882   

210   

137   

706   

918   

201   

130   

696   

Purchased services and other

1,050   

1,193   

1,072   

8   

—   

2   

2   

6   

890 

210 

139 

708 

1,199 

 (27) 

 3 

 2 

 10 

 (12) 

18   

1   

3   

4   

936 

202 

133 

700 

11   

1,083 

Total operating expenses

$ 

4,399  $ 

4,668  $ 

4,485  $ 

23  $ 

4,691 

 (6)  $ 

48  $ 

4,533 

 4 

 (6) 

 4 

 3 

 1 

 10 

 3 

Dividend Payout Ratio and Adjusted Dividend Payout Ratio
Dividend payout ratio is calculated as dividends declared per share divided by Diluted EPS. Adjusted dividend payout ratio is calculated as dividends declared 
per share divided by Adjusted diluted EPS, as defined above. These ratios are measures of shareholder return and provide information on the Company's 
ability to declare dividends on an ongoing basis. Dividend payout ratio and Adjusted dividend payout ratio are presented in Item 6. Selected Financial Data 
and  discussed  further  in  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources  of  this  Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations. 

Calculation of Dividend Payout Ratio

(in dollars, except for percentages)
Dividends declared per share

Diluted EPS

Dividend payout ratio

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

$  3.5600 

$  3.1400 

$  2.5125 

$  2.1875 

$  1.8500 

17.97 

 19.8% 

17.52 

13.61 

16.44 

10.63 

 17.9% 

 18.5% 

 13.3% 

 17.4% 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  91

Calculation of Adjusted Dividend Payout Ratio

(in dollars, except for percentages)
Dividends declared per share

Adjusted diluted EPS

Adjusted dividend payout ratio

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

$  3.5600 

$  3.1400 

$  2.5125 

$  2.1875 

$  1.8500 

17.67 

 20.1% 

16.44 

14.51 

11.39 

10.29 

 19.1% 

 17.3% 

 19.2% 

 18.0% 

Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio 
Adjusted net debt to Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") ratio is calculated as Adjusted net debt divided by 
Adjusted EBITDA. The Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio is a key credit measure used to assess the Company’s financial capacity. The ratio provides 
information on the Company’s ability to service its debt and other long-term obligations. The Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio, which is reconciled 
below from the Long-term debt to Net income ratio, the most comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, is also presented in Item 6. Selected 
Financial Data and discussed further in Liquidity and Capital Resources of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations. 

Calculation of Long-term Debt to Net Income Ratio

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except for ratios)
Long-term debt including long-term debt maturing within one year as at 
December 31

Net income for the year ended December 31

Long-term debt to Net income ratio

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

$ 

9,771  $ 

8,757  $ 

8,696  $ 

8,159  $ 

2,444   

4.0   

2,440   

1,951   

2,405   

3.6   

4.5   

3.4   

8,684 

1,599 

5.4 

Reconciliation of Long-term Debt to Adjusted Net Debt 
Adjusted  net  debt  is  defined  as  Long-term  debt,  Long-term  debt  maturing  within  one  year  and  Short-term  borrowing  as  reported  on  the  Company’s 
Consolidated Balance Sheets adjusted for pension plans deficit, operating lease liabilities recognized on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and 
Cash and cash equivalents.

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Long-term debt including long-term debt maturing within one 
year as at December 31

$ 

9,771  $ 

8,757  $ 

8,696  $ 

8,159  $ 

8,684 

Add:

Pension plans deficit(1)
Operating lease liabilities

Less:

Cash and cash equivalents

Adjusted net debt as at December 31

(1) Pension plans deficit is the total funded status of the Pension plans in deficit only.

328   

311   

294   

354   

266   

387   

278   

281   

147   

133   

61   

338   

$ 

10,263  $ 

9,272  $ 

9,288  $ 

8,380  $ 

273 

361 

164 

9,154 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
92  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Reconciliation of Net Income to EBIT, Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA
Earnings before interest and tax ("EBIT") is calculated as Net income before Net interest expense and Income tax expense. Adjusted EBIT excludes significant 
items reported in both Operating income and Other (income) expense. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBIT plus operating lease expense and 
Depreciation and amortization, less Other components of net periodic benefit recovery. 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Net income as reported

Add:

Net interest expense

Income tax expense

EBIT

Less significant items (pre-tax):

Legal settlement charge

Insurance recovery of legal settlement

Charge on hedge roll and de-designation

Management transition recovery

Impact of FX translation gain (loss) on debt and lease liabilities

Adjusted EBIT

Add:

Operating lease expense

Depreciation and amortization

Less:

For the year ended December 31

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

2,444  $ 

2,440  $ 

1,951  $ 

2,405  $ 

458   

758   

448   

706   

453   

637   

473   

93   

2016

1,599 

471 

553 

3,660   

3,594   

3,041   

2,971   

2,623 

—   

—   

—   

—   

14   

—   

—   

—   

—   

94   

3,646   

3,500   

78   

779   

83   

706   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(168)   

3,209   

97   

696   

—   

10   

(13)   

51   

186   

(25) 

— 

— 

— 

79 

2,737   

2,569 

104   

661   

111 

640 

Other components of net periodic benefit recovery

342   

381   

384   

274   

167 

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 

4,161  $ 

3,908  $ 

3,618  $ 

3,228  $ 

3,153 

Calculation of Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except for ratios)
Adjusted net debt as at December 31

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31

Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio

2020

2019

2018

2017

$ 

10,263  $ 

9,272  $ 

9,288  $ 

8,380  $ 

4,161   

2.5   

3,908   

3,618   

3,228   

2.4   

2.6   

2.6   

2016

9,154 

3,153 

2.9 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements 
Guarantees
Refer to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 26 Guarantees for details.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  93

Contractual Commitments
The accompanying table indicates the Company’s obligations and commitments to make future payments for contracts such as debt, leases, and commercial 
arrangements as at December 31, 2020.

Payments due by period (in millions of Canadian dollars)

Total

2021

2022 & 2023

2024 & 2025

Thereafter

Interest on long-term debt and finance leases

$ 

10,883  $ 

9,717   

143   

347   

1,743   

494   

441  $ 

1,178   

8   

71   

528   

54   

762  $ 

946   

111   

112   

930   

102   

693  $ 

974   

14   

76   

97   

98   

8,987 

6,619 

10 

88 

188 

240 

Long-term debt

Finance leases
Operating leases(1)
Supplier purchase
Other long-term liabilities(2)
Total contractual commitments

$ 

23,327  $ 

2,280  $ 

2,963  $ 

1,952  $ 

16,132 

(1) Residual value guarantees on certain leased equipment with a maximum exposure of $1 million are not included in the minimum payments shown above, as management believes that 

CP will not be required to make payments under these residual guarantees.

(2) Includes expected cash payments for environmental remediation, post-retirement benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, long-term disability benefits, pension benefit payments for the 
Company’s non-registered supplemental pension plan, and certain other long-term liabilities. Projected payments for post-retirement benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, and long-
term disability benefits include the anticipated payments for years 2021 to 2030. Pension contributions for the Company’s registered pension plans are not included due to the volatility in 
calculating them. Pension payments are discussed further in Critical Accounting Estimates of this Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of 
Operations.

Certain Other Financial Commitments
In addition to the financial commitments mentioned above, the Company is party to certain other financial commitments discussed below.

Letters of Credit
Letters of credit are obtained mainly to provide security to third parties under the terms of various agreements, including the supplemental pension plan. CP 
is liable for these contractual amounts in the case of non-performance under these agreements. Letters of credit are accommodated through a revolving 
credit facility and the Company’s bilateral letter of credit facilities.

Capital Commitments
The  Company  remains  committed  to  maintaining  the  current  high  level  of  quality  of  our  capital  assets  in  pursuing  sustainable  growth.  As  part  of  this 
commitment, CP has entered into contracts with suppliers to make various capital purchases related to track and rolling stock programs. Payments for these 
commitments are due in 2021 through 2032. These expenditures are expected to be financed by cash generated from operations or by issuing new debt.

The accompanying table indicates the Company’s commitments to make future payments for letters of credit and capital expenditures as at December 31, 
2020.

Payments due by period (in millions of Canadian dollars)

Letters of credit

Capital commitments
Total certain other financial commitments

Total

59  $ 

547   

606  $ 

$ 

$ 

2021

2022 & 2023

2024 & 2025

Thereafter

59  $ 

369   

428  $ 

—  $ 

79   

79  $ 

—  $ 

41   

41  $ 

— 

58 

58 

Critical Accounting Estimates
To prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements that conform with GAAP, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the 
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Using the most current information available, the Company reviews estimates on 
an ongoing basis, including those related to environmental liabilities, pensions and other benefits, property, plant and equipment, deferred income taxes, 
and personal injury and other claims liabilities.

The  development,  selection  and  disclosure  of  these  estimates,  and  this  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of 
Operations, have been reviewed by the Board of Directors’ Audit and Finance Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
94  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Environmental Liabilities
Environmental  remediation  accruals  cover  site-specific  remediation  programs.  CP  estimates  of  the  probable  costs  to  be  incurred  in  the  remediation  of 
properties contaminated by past railway activities reflect the nature of contamination at individual sites according to typical activities and scale of operations 
conducted.  The  Company  screens  and  classifies  sites  according  to  typical  activities  and  scale  of  operations  conducted.  CP  has  developed  remediation 
strategies for each property based on the nature and extent of the contamination, as well as the location of the property and surrounding areas that may be 
adversely affected by the presence of contaminants. CP also considers available technologies, treatment and disposal facilities and the acceptability of site-
specific plans based on the local regulatory environment. Site-specific plans range from containment and risk management of the contaminants through to 
the removal and treatment of the contaminants and affected soils and groundwater. The details of the estimates reflect the environmental liability at each 
property. The Company is committed to fully meeting regulatory and legal obligations with respect to environmental matters. 

Some sites include remediation activities that are projected beyond the 10-year period, which CP is unable to reasonably estimate and determine. Therefore, 
CP's accruals of the environmental liabilities is based on an estimate of costs for a rolling 10-year period covered by the environmental program. Payments 
are expected to be made over 10 years to 2030. A limited portion of the environmental accruals, the stable Perpetual Care for the environmental program, 
are  fixed  and  reliably  determined.  This  portion  of  the  environmental  liabilities  is  discounted  using  a  risk-free  rate,  adjusted  by  inflation  and  productivity 
improvements.

Provisions for environmental remediation costs are recorded in “Other long-term liabilities” (refer to Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, 
Note 18 Other long-term liabilities), except for the current portion which is recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” (refer to Item 8. Financial 
Statements  and  Supplementary  Data,  Note 15  Accounts  payable  and  accrued  liabilities).  The  accruals  for  environmental  remediation  represent  CP’s  best 
estimate of its probable future obligations and include both asserted and unasserted claims, without reduction for anticipated recoveries from third parties. 
Although  the  recorded  accruals  include  CP’s  best  estimate  of  all  probable  costs,  CP’s  total  environmental  remediation  costs  cannot  be  predicted  with 
certainty.  Accruals  for  environmental  remediation  may  change  from  time  to  time  as  new  information  about  previously  untested  sites  becomes  known, 
environmental  laws  and  regulations  evolve  and  advances  are  made  in  environmental  remediation  technology.  The  accruals  may  also  vary  as  the  courts 
decide legal proceedings against outside parties responsible for contamination. These potential charges, which cannot be quantified at this time, are not 
expected to be material to the Company’s financial position, but may materially affect income in the period in which a charge is recognized. 

The environmental liabilities are also sensitive to the increase in cost of materials which would be reflected as increases to "Other long-term liabilities" and 
"Accounts  payable  and  accrued  liabilities"  on  the  Company’s  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  and  to  "Purchased  services  and  other"  within  Operating 
expenses  on  the  Company's  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income.  CP's  cash  payments  for  environmental  initiatives  are  estimated  to  be  approximately $9 
million in 2021, $10 million in 2022, $9 million in 2023 and a total of approximately $53 million over the remaining years through 2030. All payments will 
be funded from general operations.

Pensions and Other Benefits
CP has defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans. Other benefits include post-retirement medical and life insurance for pensioners, and some 
post-employment workers’ compensation and long-term disability benefits in Canada. Workers’ compensation and long-term disability benefits are discussed 
in the Personal Injury and Other Claims Liabilities section below. Pension and post-retirement benefits liabilities are subject to various external influences and 
uncertainties.

Information concerning the measurement of costs for pensions and other benefits is discussed in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 
1 Summary of significant accounting policies and Note 22 Pensions and other benefits.

Net Periodic Benefit Costs
The  Company  reports  the  current  service  cost  component  of  net  periodic  benefit  cost  in  "Compensation  and  benefits"  for  pensions  and  post-retirement 
benefits  and  in  "Purchased  services  and  other"  for  self-insured  workers'  compensation  and  long-term  disability  benefits  on  the  Company's  Consolidated 
Statements  of  Income.  The  Other  components  of  net  periodic  benefit  recovery  are  reported  as  a  separate  line  item  outside  of  Operating  income  on  the 
Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. Components of the net periodic benefit costs (credits) are as follows:

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  95

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Defined benefit pensions

Defined contribution pensions

Post-retirement benefits

Self-insured workers' compensation and long-term 
disability benefits
All plans

2020

2019

Current 
service cost

Other 
components

Total

Current service 
cost

Other 
components

$ 

140  $ 

(363)  $ 

(223)  $ 

107  $ 

(414)  $ 

12   

4   

8   

—   

17   

4   

12 

21 

12 

$ 

164  $ 

(342)  $ 

(178)  $ 

11   

4   

7   

129  $ 

—   

16   

17   

Total

(307) 

11 

20 

24 

(381)  $ 

(252) 

CP estimates net periodic benefit credits for defined benefit pensions to be approximately $230 million in 2021 ($171 million in current service cost and 
$401 million in other components of net periodic recovery), and net periodic benefit costs for defined contribution pensions to be approximately $12 million 
in 2021. Net periodic benefit costs for post-retirement benefits in 2021 are not expected to differ materially from the 2020 costs. Total net periodic benefit 
credits for all plans are estimated to be approximately $185 million in 2021 (2020 – $178 million), comprising $196 million (2020 – $164 million) in current 
service cost and $381 million (2020 – $342 million) in other components of net periodic recovery. The expected rate of return on the market-related asset 
value used to compute the net periodic benefit credit was 7.50% in 2019 and 7.25% in 2020. For computing the net periodic benefit credit in 2021, the 
Company  is  reducing  this  rate  to  6.90%  to  reflect  CP's  current  view  of  future  long-term  investment  returns.  Net  periodic  benefit  costs  and  credits  are 
discussed further in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 22 Pensions and other benefits.

Pension Plan Contributions
The Company made contributions of $27 million to the defined benefit pension plans in 2020, compared with $53 million in 2019. The Company’s main 
Canadian  defined  benefit  pension  plan  accounts  for  nearly  all  of  CP’s  pension  obligation  and  can  produce  significant  volatility  in  pension  funding 
requirements,  given  the  pension  fund’s  size,  the  many  factors  that  drive  the  pension  plan’s  funded  status,  and  Canadian  statutory  pension  funding 
requirements. The Company made voluntary prepayments of $600 million in 2011, $650 million in 2010, and $500 million in 2009 to the Company’s main 
Canadian defined benefit pension plan. CP has applied $1,324 million of these voluntary prepayments to reduce its pension funding requirements in 2012–
2020, leaving $426 million of the voluntary prepayments still available at December 31, 2020 to reduce CP’s pension funding requirements in 2021 and 
future years. CP continues to have significant flexibility with respect to the rate at which the remaining voluntary prepayments are applied to reduce future 
years’ pension contribution requirements, which allows CP to manage the volatility of future pension funding requirements. At this time, CP estimates it will 
not apply any of the remaining voluntary prepayments against its 2021 pension funding requirements.

CP  estimates  its  aggregate  pension  contributions,  including  its  defined  benefit  and  defined  contribution  plans,  to  be  in  the  range  of $30  million  to  $40 
million in 2021, and in the range of $30 million to $50 million per year from 2022 to 2024. These estimates reflect the Company’s current intentions with 
respect to the rate at which CP will apply the remaining voluntary prepayments against contribution requirements in the next few years. 

Future  pension  contributions  will  be  highly  dependent  on  the  Company’s  actual  experience  with  such  variables  as  investment  returns,  interest  rate 
fluctuations, and demographic changes, on the rate at which previous years’ voluntary prepayments are applied against pension contribution requirements, 
and on any changes in the regulatory environment. CP will continue to make contributions to the pension plans that, at a minimum, meet pension legislative 
requirements.

Pension Plan Risks
Fluctuations in the liability and net periodic benefit costs for pensions result from favourable or unfavourable investment returns and changes in long-term 
interest rates. The impact of favourable or unfavourable investment returns is moderated by the use of a market-related asset value for the main Canadian 
defined  benefit  pension  plan’s  public  equity  securities  and  absolute  return  strategies.  The  impact  of  changes  in  long-term  interest  rates  on  pension 
obligations is partially offset by their impact on the pension funds’ investments in fixed income assets.

The plans’ investment policy provides a target allocation of approximately 45% of the plans’ assets to be invested in public equity securities. As a result, 
stock market performance is a key driver in determining the pension funds’ asset performance. If the rate of investment return on the plans’ public equity 
securities in 2020 had been 10% higher (or lower) than the actual 2020 rate of investment return on such securities, 2021 net periodic benefit costs for 
pensions would be lower (or higher) by approximately $24 million.

Changes in bond yields can result in changes to discount rates and to changes in the value of fixed income assets. If the discount rate as at December 31, 
2020 had been higher (or lower) by 0.1% with no related changes in the value of the pension funds’ investment in fixed income assets, 2021 net periodic 
benefit costs for pensions would be lower (or higher) by approximately $15 million and 2021 current service costs for pensions would be lower (or higher) by 
approximately $6 million. However, a change in bond yields would also lead to a change in the value of the pension funds’ investment in  fixed income 
assets, and this change would partially offset the impact on net periodic benefit costs noted above.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
96  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The Company estimates that an increase in the discount rate of 0.1% would decrease the defined benefit pension plans’ projected benefit obligations by 
approximately $203 million, and that a decrease in the discount rate of 0.1% would increase the defined benefit pension plans’ projected benefit obligations 
by approximately $212 million. Similarly, for every 0.1% the actual return on assets varies above (or below) the estimated return for the year, the value of 
the defined benefit pension plans’ assets would increase (or decrease) by approximately $14 million.

Adverse  experience  with  respect  to  these  factors  could  eventually  increase  funding  and  pension  expense  significantly,  while  favourable  experience  with 
respect to these factors could eventually decrease funding and pension expense significantly.

Fluctuations in the post-retirement benefit obligation also can result from changes in the discount rate used. A 0.1% increase (decrease) in the discount rate 
would decrease (increase) the obligation by approximately $6 million.

CP reviews its pensioner mortality experience to ensure that the mortality assumption continues to be appropriate, or to determine what changes to the 
assumption are needed.

Property, Plant and Equipment
The Company follows the group depreciation method under which a single depreciation rate is applied to the total cost in a particular class of property, 
despite differences in the service life or salvage value of individual properties within the same class. CP performs depreciation studies of each property asset 
class approximately every three years to update depreciation rates. The studies are conducted with assistance from third-party specialists and analyzed and 
reviewed  by  the  Company's  management.  Depreciation  studies  for  U.S.  assets  are  reviewed  and  approved  by  the  Surface  Transportation  Board 
("STB"). Depreciation studies for Canadian assets are provided to the Canadian Transportation Agency (the "Agency"), but the Agency does not approve 
depreciation  rates.  In  determining  appropriate  depreciation  rates,  management  is  required  to  make  judgments  and  assumptions  about  a  variety  of  key 
factors that are subject to future variability due to inherent uncertainties. These include the following:

Key Assumptions
• Whole and remaining asset lives 

•

Salvage values

Assessments 
•
•

Statistical analysis of historical retirement patterns; 
Evaluation of management strategy and its impact on operations and the future 
use of specific property assets;
Assessment of technological advances;
Engineering  estimates  of  changes  in  current  operations  and  analysis  of  historic, 
current and projected future usage;
Additional factors considered for track assets: density of traffic and whether rail is 
new or has been re-laid in a subsequent position; 
Assessment  of  policies  and  practices  for  the  management  of  assets  including 
maintenance; and
Comparison with industry data.

Analysis of historical, current and estimated future salvage values.

•
•

•

•

•

•

CP  depreciates  the  cost  of  properties,  net  of  salvage,  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  estimated  useful  life  of  the  class  of  property.    The  estimates  of 
economic  lives  are  uncertain  and  can  vary  due  to  changes  in  any  of  the  assessed  factors  noted  in  the  table  above  for  whole  and  remaining  asset  lives. 
Additionally, the depreciation rates are updated to reflect the change in residual values of the assets in the class. 

It  is anticipated that there will be changes in the estimates of weighted-average useful lives and net salvage for each property asset class  as  assets are 
acquired,  used  and  retired.  Substantial  changes  in  either  the  useful  lives  of  properties  or  the  salvage  assumptions  could  result  in  significant  changes  to 
depreciation expense. For example, if the estimated average life of track assets, including rail, ties, ballast and other track material, increased (or decreased) 
by one year, annual depreciation expense would decrease (or increase) by approximately $18 million. 

Due to the capital intensive nature of the railway industry, depreciation represents a significant part of operating expenses. The estimated useful lives of 
properties have a direct impact on the amount of depreciation recorded as a component of "Properties" on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. At 
December 31, 2020 and 2019, accumulated depreciation was $8,629 million and $8,099 million, respectively.

Deferred Income Taxes
CP accounts for deferred income taxes based on the liability method. This method focuses on the Company’s balance sheet and the temporary differences 
otherwise  calculated  from  the  comparison  of  book  versus  tax  values.  The  provision  for  deferred  income  taxes  arises  from  temporary  differences  in  the 
carrying  values  of  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial  statement  and  income  tax  purposes  and  the  effect  of  loss  carry  forwards.  It  is  assumed  that  such 
temporary differences will be settled in the deferred income tax assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  97

In determining deferred income taxes, the Company makes estimates and assumptions regarding deferred tax matters, including estimating the timing of the 
realization and settlement of deferred  income tax assets (including the  benefit of tax losses) and liabilities, and estimating unrecognized tax  benefits for 
uncertain tax positions. Deferred income taxes are calculated using enacted federal, provincial, and state future income tax rates, which may differ in future 
periods.

Deferred income tax expense is included in "Income tax expense" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. Additional disclosures are provided 
in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 6 Income taxes.

Personal Injury and Other Claims Liabilities
CP estimates the potential liability arising from incidents, claims and pending litigations relating to personal injury claims by employees, third-party claims, 
certain occupation-related claims and property damage claims.

Personal Injury
In  Canada,  employee  occupational  injuries  are  governed  by  provincial  workers'  compensation  legislation.  Occupational  injury  claims  in  the  provinces  of 
Québec, Ontario, Manitoba and B.C. are self-insured and administered through each Worker's Compensation Board ("WCB"). The future costs related to 
occupation-related  injuries  are  actuarially  determined  based  on  past  experience  and  assumptions  associated  with  the  injury,  compensation,  income 
replacement, health care and administrative costs. In the four provinces where the Company is self-insured, a discount rate is applied to the future estimated 
costs based on market rates for investment grade corporate bonds to  determine the liability. An actuarial study is performed on an annual  basis.  In  the 
provinces  of  Saskatchewan  and  Alberta,  the  Company  is  assessed  an  annual  WCB  contribution  on  a  premium  basis  and  this  amount  is  not  subject  to 
estimation by management. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, the WCB liability was $84 million and $85 million in "Pension and other benefit 
liabilities"; $11 million and $11 million in "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities", offset by deposits paid to WCB of $1 million and $1 million in "Other 
assets" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

U.S.  railway  employees  are  covered  by  federal  law  under  the  Federal  Employers'  Liability  Act  ("FELA")  rather  than  workers'  compensation  programs. 
Accruals  are  set  for  individual  cases  based  on  facts,  legal  opinion  and  statistical  analysis.  U.S.  accruals  are  also  set  and  include  alleged  occupational 
exposure or injury. 

Other Claims 
A provision for litigation matters, equipment damages or other claims will be accrued according to applicable accounting standards and any such accrual will 
be based on an ongoing assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the litigation or claim and its likelihood of success, together with an evaluation of 
the damages or other monetary relief sought. CP accrues for probable claims when the facts of an incident become known and investigation results provide 
a  reasonable  basis  for  estimating  the  liability.  The  lower  end  of  the  range  is  accrued  if  the  facts  and  circumstances  permit  only  a  range  of  reasonable 
estimates and no single amount in that range is a better estimate than any other. Facts and circumstances related to asserted claims can change, and a 
process is in place to monitor accruals for changes in accounting estimates.

Forward-Looking Statements
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-
looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the 
meaning  of  other  relevant  securities  legislation,  including  applicable  securities  laws  in  Canada  (collectively  referred  to  herein  as  "forward-looking 
statements"). Forward-looking statements typically include words such as “financial expectations”, “key assumptions”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, 
“plan”, “will”, “outlook”, “should” or similar words suggesting future outcomes. To the extent that CP has provided forecasts or targets using Non-GAAP 
financial measures, the Company may not be able to provide a reconciliation to a GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts, due to unknown variables 
and uncertainty related to future results.

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking 
statements  relating,  but  not  limited  to  statements  concerning  the  Company’s  defined  benefit  pension  expectations  for  2021  and  through  2024,  our 
expectations for 2021 financial and operational performance, including our full-year guidance for expected RTM and adjusted diluted EPS growth, planned 
capital expenditures (including how such capital expenditures are expected to be financed), expected impacts resulting from changes in the U.S.-to-Canadian 
dollar exchange rate, and the effective tax rate, as well as statements concerning the Company’s operations, anticipated financial performance, business 
prospects and strategies, including statements concerning the anticipation that cash flow from operations and various sources of financing will be sufficient 
to meet debt repayments and obligations in the foreseeable future and concerning anticipated capital programs, and statements regarding future payments 
including income taxes and pension contributions. The purpose of the 2021 Adjusted diluted EPS growth projection is to assist readers in understanding our 
expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The  forward-looking  statements  contained  in  this  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  and  Annual 
Report  on  Form  10-K  are  based  on  current  expectations,  estimates,  projections  and  assumptions,  having  regard  to  the  Company's  experience  and  its 
perception  of  historical  trends,  and  includes,  but  is  not  limited  to,  expectations,  estimates,  projections  and  assumptions  relating  to:  North  American  and 

 
98  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

global  economic  growth;  commodity  demand  growth;  sustainable  industrial  and  agricultural  production;  commodity  prices  and  interest  rates;  foreign 
exchange rates (as specified herein); effective tax rates (as specified herein); performance of our assets and equipment; sufficiency of our budgeted capital 
expenditures  in  carrying  out  our  business  plan;  geopolitical  conditions;  applicable  laws,  regulations  and  government  policies;  the  availability  and  cost  of 
labour,  services  and  infrastructure;  the  satisfaction  by  third  parties  of  their  obligations  to  the  Company;  and  the  anticipated  impacts  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic on the Company's business, operating results, cash flows and/or financial condition. Although the Company believes the expectations, estimates, 
projections and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements presented herein are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance 
that they will prove to be correct. Current conditions, economic and otherwise, render assumptions, although reasonable when made, subject to greater 
uncertainty.

Undue  reliance  should  not  be  placed  on  forward-looking  statements  as  actual  results  may  differ  materially  from  those  expressed  or  implied  by  forward-
looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ 
materially from the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following factors: changes in business strategies; general North American 
and global economic, credit and business conditions; risks associated with agricultural production such as weather conditions and insect populations; the 
availability  and  price  of  energy  commodities;  the  effects  of  competition  and  pricing  pressures;  industry  capacity;  shifts  in  market  demand;  changes  in 
commodity  prices;  uncertainty  surrounding  timing  and  volumes  of  commodities  being  shipped  via  CP;  inflation;  geopolitical  instability;  changes  in  laws, 
regulations and government policies, including regulation of rates; changes in taxes and tax rates; potential increases in maintenance and operating costs; 
changes in fuel prices; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; labour disputes; risks and liabilities arising from 
derailments; transportation of dangerous goods; timing of completion of capital and maintenance projects; currency and interest rate fluctuations; effects of 
changes  in  market  conditions  and  discount  rates  on  the  financial  position  of  pension  plans  and  investments;  trade  restrictions  or  other  changes  to 
international  trade  arrangements;  climate  change;  various  events  that  could  disrupt  operations,  including  severe  weather,  such  as  droughts,  floods, 
avalanches and earthquakes, and cybersecurity attacks, as well as security threats and governmental response to them, and technological changes; and the 
pandemic created by the outbreak of COVID-19 and resulting effects on economic conditions, the demand environment for logistics requirements and energy 
prices, restrictions imposed by public health authorities or governments, fiscal and monetary policy responses by governments and financial institutions, and 
disruptions to global supply chains. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

There are more specific factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained in this 
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Annual Report on Form 10-K. These more specific factors are 
identified and discussed in Item 1A. Risk Factors. Other risks are detailed from time to time in reports filed by CP with securities regulators in Canada and the 
United States.

The  forward-looking  statements  contained  in  this  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  and  Annual 
Report on Form 10-K are made as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, CP undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any 
forward-looking  statements,  or  the  foregoing  assumptions  and  risks  affecting  such  forward-looking  statements,  whether  as  a  result  of  new  information, 
future events or otherwise.

 CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  99

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Foreign Exchange Risk
Although CP conducts business primarily in Canada, a significant portion of its revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities including debt are denominated in 
U.S.  dollars.  The  value  of  the  Canadian  dollar  is  affected  by  a  number  of  domestic  and  international  factors,  including,  without  limitation,  economic 
performance, and Canadian, U.S. and international monetary policies. Consequently, the Company’s results are affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate 
between these currencies. In 2021, CP expects that every $0.01 weakening (or strengthening) of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, positively (or 
negatively) impacts Total revenues by approximately $27 million (2019 – approximately $30 million), negatively (or positively) impacts Operating expenses 
by approximately $14 million (2019 – approximately $15 million), and negatively (or positively) impacts Net interest expense by approximately $3 million 
(2019 – approximately $3 million) on an annualized basis.

CP uses U.S. dollar-denominated debt to hedge its net investment in U.S. operations. As at December 31, 2020, the net investment in U.S. operations is less 
than the total U.S. denominated debt. Consequently, FX translation on the Company’s undesignated debt and lease liabilities causes additional impacts on 
earnings in Other income. 

To manage its exposure to fluctuations in exchange rates between Canadian and U.S. dollars, CP may sell or purchase U.S. dollar forwards at fixed rates in 
future  periods.  In  addition,  changes  in  the  exchange  rate  between  the  Canadian  dollar  and  other  currencies  (including  the  U.S.  dollar)  make  the  goods 
transported by the Company more or less competitive in the world marketplace and may in turn positively or negatively affect revenues. 

Share Price Impact on Stock-Based Compensation
Based on information available at December 31, 2020 and expectations for 2021 grants, for every $1.00 change in share price, stock-based compensation 
expense has a corresponding change of approximately $0.4 million to $0.6 million (2019 – approximately $0.4 million to $0.6 million). This excludes the 
impact of changes in share price relative to the S&P/TSX 60 Index, the S&P/TSX Capped Industrial Index, the S&P 1500 Road and Rail Index, and to Class I 
railways,  which  may  trigger  different  performance  share  unit  payouts.  Stock-based  compensation  may  also  be  impacted  by  non-market  performance 
conditions.

Additional  information  concerning  stock-based  compensation  is  included  in  Item  8.  Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data,  Note 23  Stock-based 
compensation.

Interest Rate Risk
Debt financing forms part of the Company's capital structure. The debt agreements entered into expose CP to increased interest costs on future fixed debt 
instruments and existing variable rate debt instruments, should market rates increase. In addition, the present value of the Company’s assets and liabilities 
will also vary with interest rate changes. To manage interest rate exposure, CP may enter into forward rate agreements such as treasury rate locks or bond 
forwards that lock in rates for a future date, thereby protecting against interest rate increases. CP may also enter into swap agreements whereby one party 
agrees to pay a fixed rate of interest while the other party pays a floating rate. Contingent on the direction of interest rates, the Company may incur higher 
costs depending on the contracted rate.

As at December 31, 2020, CP did not have any floating rate debt obligations outstanding, and therefore fluctuations in interest rates would not have an 
impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.

The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt may fluctuate with changes in market interest rates. A hypothetical one percent decrease in interest rates as 
of December 31, 2020 would result in an increase of approximately $1.5 billion to the fair value of our debt as at December 31, 2020 (December 31, 2019 - 
approximately $1.2 billion). Fair values of CP’s fixed rate debt are estimated by considering the impact of the hypothetical interest rates on quoted market 
prices and current borrowing rates, but do not consider other factors that could impact actual results.

Information concerning market risks is supplemented in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 17 Financial instruments.

100  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  101

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Statements of Income

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As at December 31, 2020 and 2019

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

101

103

104

105

106

107

108

Opinion on the Financial Statements 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 

2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in shareholders’ equity, for each of the 

three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8 (collectively 

referred  to  as  the  "financial  statements").  In  our  opinion,  the  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial  position  of  the 

Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 

31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)  (PCAOB),  the  Company's 

internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued 

by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 18, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on 

the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion 

PCAOB.

These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company's  financial 

statements  based  on  our  audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  PCAOB  and  are  required  to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the 

Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 

assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  error  or  fraud.  Our  audits  included  performing 

procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond 

to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits 

also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the 

financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The  critical  audit  matters  communicated  below  are  matters  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  financial  statements  that  were  communicated  or 

required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) 

involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on 

the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical 

audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Properties  –  Direct  Costs  that  are  Capitalized  to  Self-constructed  Assets  –  Refer  to  Notes  1,  12  and  19  to  the  Financial 

Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company recognizes direct costs as capitalized additions to self-constructed assets, within properties, based on expenditures necessary to make an asset 

ready for its intended use. The capitalization of self-constructed assets requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to the 

capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed assets based on whether the expenditures meet capitalization criteria under US GAAP. 

We  identified  the  capitalization  of  direct  cost  additions  to  self-constructed  assets  as  a  critical  audit  matter  because  the  judgments  and  assumptions 

management makes could have a significant impact on the capitalization of direct cost additions. As such auditing the capitalization of direct cost additions 

involves a high degree of auditor judgment.

How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit 

Our audit procedures related to the capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed assets included the following, among others:

•

•

assets.

Evaluated the effectiveness of controls over self-constructed assets, including those over the capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed 

Selected a sample of direct costs and obtained evidence to support the capitalized additions to self-constructed assets and assessed whether these 

expenditures met the capitalization criteria under US GAAP.

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  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  101

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

Opinion on the Financial Statements 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 
2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows, and changes in shareholders’ equity, for each of the 
three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 8 (collectively 
referred  to  as  the  "financial  statements").  In  our  opinion,  the  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial  position  of  the 
Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 
31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)  (PCAOB),  the  Company's 
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued 
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 18, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on 
the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion 
These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Company's  management.  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company's  financial 
statements  based  on  our  audits.  We  are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  PCAOB  and  are  required  to  be  independent  with  respect  to  the 
Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the 
PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  error  or  fraud.  Our  audits  included  performing 
procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond 
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits 
also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the 
financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters
The  critical  audit  matters  communicated  below  are  matters  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  financial  statements  that  were  communicated  or 
required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) 
involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on 
the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical 
audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Properties  –  Direct  Costs  that  are  Capitalized  to  Self-constructed  Assets  –  Refer  to  Notes  1,  12  and  19  to  the  Financial 
Statements

Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company recognizes direct costs as capitalized additions to self-constructed assets, within properties, based on expenditures necessary to make an asset 
ready for its intended use. The capitalization of self-constructed assets requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to the 
capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed assets based on whether the expenditures meet capitalization criteria under US GAAP. 

We  identified  the  capitalization  of  direct  cost  additions  to  self-constructed  assets  as  a  critical  audit  matter  because  the  judgments  and  assumptions 
management makes could have a significant impact on the capitalization of direct cost additions. As such auditing the capitalization of direct cost additions 
involves a high degree of auditor judgment.

How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit 
Our audit procedures related to the capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed assets included the following, among others:

•

•

Evaluated the effectiveness of controls over self-constructed assets, including those over the capitalization of direct cost additions to self-constructed 
assets.
Selected a sample of direct costs and obtained evidence to support the capitalized additions to self-constructed assets and assessed whether these 
expenditures met the capitalization criteria under US GAAP.

 
 
102  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Defined Benefit Pension – Refer to Notes 1 and 22 to the Financial Statements 

Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s accounting of its defined benefit pension plans involves the measurement of the projected benefit obligation and fair value of fund assets. 
The  measurement  of  the  projected-benefit  obligation  requires  management  to  make  significant  estimates  and  assumptions  in  the  determination  of  the 
discount rate, which is based on blended market interest rates of high-quality corporate debt instruments with matching cash flows. The measurement of the 
fair value of fund assets requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions in the determination of the expected return on fund assets, 
which is calculated using the market-related value of assets. 

We identified the determination of the discount rate (for the projected benefit obligation), and the determination of the expected return on fund assets (for 
the determination of the net period benefit cost) as the critical audit matters because of the significant estimates and assumptions management makes could 
have a significant impact on the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of fund assets. As such auditing the determination of the discount rate and 
the expected return on fund assets involves a high degree of auditor judgment as the estimates and assumptions made by management contains significant 
measurement uncertainty and resulted in an increased extent of effort, which included the need to involve an actuarial specialist.

How the Critical Audit Matter was Addressed in the Audit 
Our audit procedures related to the determination of the discount rate (for the projected benefit obligation), and the expected return on fund assets (for the 
determination of the fair value of fund assets) included the following, among others:

•

Evaluated the effectiveness of controls over defined benefit pension plans, including those over the determination of the discount rate and the expected 
return on fund assets.

–
–
–

• With the assistance of an actuarial specialist, we evaluated the reasonableness of the discount rate by:
Assessing the methodology used in management’s determination of the discount rate,
Testing the underlying source information, and 
Developing a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the discount rate selected by management.
• With the assistance of an actuarial specialist, we evaluated the reasonableness of the expected return on fund assets by:
Assessing the methodology used in management’s determination of the expected return on fund assets,
Testing the underlying source information, and
Comparing management’s assumptions to historical data and available market trends. 

–
–
–
Evaluated  management’s  ability  to  accurately  forecast  the  discount  rate  and  expected  return  on  fund  assets  by  comparing  actual  results  to 
management’s historical forecasts.

•

 /s/ Deloitte LLP 

Chartered Professional Accountants
Calgary, Canada 
February 18, 2021 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2011. 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  103

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Year ended December 31 (in millions of Canadian dollars, except share and per share data)
Revenues (Note 3)

2020

2019

2018

Freight

Non-freight

Total revenues

Operating expenses

$ 

7,541  $ 

169   

7,710   

7,613  $ 

179   

7,792   

7,152 

164 

7,316 

Compensation and benefits (Note 22, 23)

1,560   

1,540   

1,468 

Fuel

Materials

Equipment rents

Depreciation and amortization

Purchased services and other (Note 10)

Total operating expenses

Operating income

Less:

Other (income) expense (Note 4)

Other components of net periodic benefit recovery (Note 22)

Net interest expense (Note 5)

Income before income tax expense

Income tax expense (Note 6)

Net income

Earnings per share (Note 7)

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Weighted-average number of shares (millions) (Note 7)

Basic

Diluted

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

652   

216   

142   

779   

1,050   

4,399   

3,311   

(7)   

(342)   

458   

3,202   

758   

2,444  $ 

18.05  $ 

17.97  $ 

135.5   

136.0   

882   

210   

137   

706   

1,193   

4,668   

3,124   

(89)   

(381)   

448   

3,146   

706   

2,440  $ 

17.58  $ 

17.52  $ 

138.8   

139.3   

918 

201 

130 

696 

1,072 

4,485 

2,831 

174 

(384) 

453 

2,588 

637 

1,951 

13.65 

13.61 

142.9 

143.3 

$ 

$ 

$ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
104  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Year ended December 31 (in millions of Canadian dollars)
Net income

2020

$ 

2,444  $ 

Net gain (loss) in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of hedging activities

Change in derivatives designated as cash flow hedges

Change in pension and post-retirement defined benefit plans

Other comprehensive loss before income taxes

Income tax recovery on above items

Other comprehensive loss (Note 8)

Comprehensive income

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2019

2,440  $ 

37   

10   

(661)   

(614)   

135   

(479)   

2018

1,951 

(60) 

38 

(449) 

(471) 

169 

(302) 

18   

9   

(407)   

(380)   

88   

(292)   

$ 

2,152  $ 

1,961  $ 

1,649 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  105

2020

2019

147  $ 

825   

208   

141   

1,321   

199   

20,422   

366   

894   

438   

133 

805 

182 

90 

1,210 

341 

19,156 

206 

1,003 

451 

23,640  $ 

22,367 

1,467  $ 

1,186   

2,653   

832   

585   

8,585   

3,666   

16,321   

1,693 

599 

2,292 

785 

562 

8,158 

3,501 

15,298 

$ 

$ 

$ 

1,983   

1,993 

55   

(2,814)   

8,095   

7,319   

$ 

23,640  $ 

48 

(2,522) 

7,550 

7,069 

22,367 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As at December 31 (in millions of Canadian dollars, except Common Shares)
Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Accounts receivable, net (Note 9)

Materials and supplies

Other current assets

Investments (Note 11)

Properties (Note 12, 19)

Goodwill and intangible assets (Note 10, 13)

Pension asset (Note 22)

Other assets (Note 14, 19)

Total assets

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Current liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 15, 19)

Long-term debt maturing within one year (Note 16, 17, 19)

Pension and other benefit liabilities (Note 22)

Other long-term liabilities (Note 18, 19)

Long-term debt (Note 16, 17, 19)

Deferred income taxes (Note 6)

Total liabilities

Shareholders’ equity

Share capital (Note 20)
Authorized unlimited Common Shares without par value. Issued and outstanding are 133.3 million and 
137.0 million as at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Authorized unlimited number of first and second preferred shares; none outstanding.

Additional paid-in capital

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 8)

Retained earnings

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

See Commitments and contingencies (Note 25).

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Approved on behalf of the Board:

/s/ ISABELLE COURVILLE

Isabelle Courville, Director,

/s/ JANE L. PEVERETT

Jane L. Peverett, Director,

Chair of the Board

Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 
106  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Year ended December 31 (in millions of Canadian dollars)
Operating activities

Net income

Reconciliation of net income to cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Deferred income tax expense (Note 6)

Pension recovery and funding (Note 22)

Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt and lease liabilities (Note 4)

Settlement of forward starting swaps on debt issuance (Note 17)

Other operating activities, net

Change in non-cash working capital balances related to operations (Note 21)

Cash provided by operating activities

Investing activities

Additions to properties

Investment in Detroit River Tunnel Partnership (Note 10)

Investment in Central Maine & Québec Railway (Note 10)

Proceeds from sale of properties and other assets

Other

Cash used in investing activities

Financing activities

Dividends paid

Issuance of CP Common Shares (Note 23)

Purchase of CP Common shares (Note 20)

Issuance of long-term debt, excluding commercial paper (Note 16)

Repayment of long-term debt, excluding commercial paper (Note 16)

Net issuance of commercial paper (Note 16)

Net increase in short-term borrowings (Note 16)

Other

Cash used in financing activities

Effect of foreign currency fluctuations on U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents

Cash position

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

Income taxes paid

Interest paid

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

$ 

$ 

$ 

2020

2019

2018

$ 

2,444  $ 

2,440  $ 

1,951 

779   

221   

(250)   

(14)   

—   

11   

(389)   

2,802   

(1,671)   

(398)   

19   

22   

(2)   

706   

181   

(360)   

(94)   

—   

143   

(26)   

696 

256 

(321) 

168 

(24) 

(79) 

65 

2,990   

2,712 

(1,647)   

(1,551) 

—   

(174)   

26   

(8)   

— 

— 

78 

15 

(2,030)   

(1,803)   

(1,458) 

(467)   

52   

(1,509)   

958   

(84)   

270   

5   

11   

(764)   

6   

14   

133   

147  $ 

582  $ 

443  $ 

(412)   

26   

(1,134)   

397   

(500)   

524   

—   

(12)   

(1,111)   

(4)   

72   

61   

133  $ 

506  $ 

444  $ 

(348) 

24 

(1,103) 

638 

(753) 

— 

— 

— 

(1,542) 

11 

(277) 

338 

61 

318 

463 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  107

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)
Balance at December 31, 2017

Net income

Other comprehensive loss (Note 8)

Dividends declared ($2.5125 per share)

Effect of stock-based compensation expense

CP Common Shares repurchased (Note 20)

Shares issued under stock option plan (Note 20)

Balance at December 31, 2018

Impact of accounting change

Balance at January 1, 2019, as restated

Net income

Other comprehensive loss (Note 8)

Dividends declared ($3.1400 per share)

Effect of stock-based compensation expense

CP Common Shares repurchased (Note 20)

Shares issued under stock option plan (Note 20)

Balance at December 31, 2019

Impact of accounting change (Note 2)

Balance at January 1, 2020, as restated

Net income

Other comprehensive loss (Note 8)

Dividends declared ($3.5600 per share)

Effect of stock-based compensation expense

CP Common Shares repurchased (Note 20)

Shares issued under stock option plan (Note 20)

Share
capital

Additional
paid-in
capital

Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss

Retained
earnings

Total
shareholders’
equity

$ 

2,032  $ 

43  $ 

(1,741)  $ 

6,103  $ 

—   

—   

—   

—   

(66)   

36   

2,002   

—   

2,002   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(54)   

45   

1,993   

—   

1,993   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(58)   

48   

—   

—   

—   

11   

—   

(12)   

42   

—   

42   

—   

—   

—   

15   

—   

(9)   

48   

—   

48   

—   

—   

—   

17   

—   

(10)   

55  $ 

—   

(302)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

1,951   

—   

(358)   

—   

(1,061)   

—   

(2,043)   

6,635   

—   

(2,043)   

—   

(479)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(5)   

6,630   

2,440   

—   

(434)   

—   

(1,086)   

—   

(2,522)   

7,550   

—   

(2,522)   

—   

(292)   

—   

—   

—   

—   

(1)   

7,549   

2,444   

—   

(479)   

—   

(1,419)   

—   

(2,814)  $ 

8,095  $ 

6,437 

1,951 

(302) 

(358) 

11 

(1,127) 

24 

6,636 

(5) 

6,631 

2,440 

(479) 

(434) 

15 

(1,140) 

36 

7,069 

(1) 

7,068 

2,444 

(292) 

(479) 

17 

(1,477) 

38 

7,319 

Balance at December 31, 2020

$ 

1,983  $ 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
108  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LIMITED
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2020

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CPRL”), through its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “CP” or “the Company”), operates a transcontinental railway 
in Canada and the United States ("U.S."). CP provides rail and intermodal transportation services over a network of approximately 13,000 miles, serving the 
principal business centres of Canada from Montréal, Québec, to Vancouver, British Columbia, and the U.S. Northeast and Midwest regions. CP’s railway 
network feeds directly into the U.S. heartland from the East and West coasts. Agreements with other carriers extend the Company’s market reach in Canada, 
throughout  the  U.S.  and  into  Mexico.  CP  transports  bulk  commodities,  merchandise  freight  and  intermodal  traffic.  Bulk  commodities  include  grain,  coal, 
fertilizers and sulphur. Merchandise freight consists of finished vehicles and automotive parts, as well as forest, industrial and consumer products. Intermodal 
traffic consists largely of retail goods in overseas containers that can be transported by train, ship and truck, and in domestic containers and trailers that can 
be moved by train and truck.

1.    Summary of significant accounting policies
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”)
These Consolidated Financial Statements are expressed in Canadian dollars and have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Principles of consolidation
These Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of CP and all its subsidiaries. The Company’s investments in which it has significant influence 
are accounted for using the equity method. Distributions received from equity method investees are classified using the nature of the distribution approach 
for  cash  flow  presentation  purposes,  whereby  distributions  received  are  classified  based  on  the  nature  of  the  activity  or  activities  of  the  investee  that 
generated the distribution as either a return on investment (classified as a cash inflow from operating activities) or a return of investment (classified as a cash 
inflow from investing activities). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of estimates
The preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect 
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Management regularly reviews its estimates, including those related to environmental liabilities, pensions 
and  other  benefits,  depreciable  lives  of  properties,  deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities,  as  well  as  legal  and  personal  injury  liabilities  based  upon 
currently available information. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with a customer are satisfied. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration 
the  Company  expects  to  receive  in  exchange  for  providing  services.  Government  imposed  taxes  that  the  Company  collects  concurrent  with  revenue 
generating activities are excluded from revenue. In the normal course of business, the Company does not generate any material revenue through acting as 
an agent for other entities. 

The  Company  provides  rail  freight  transportation  services  to  a  wide  variety  of  customers  and  transports  bulk  commodities,  merchandise  freight  and 
intermodal traffic. The Company signs master service agreements with customers that dictate future services the Company is to perform for a customer at the 
time  a  bill  of  lading  or  service  request  is  received.  Each  bill  of  lading  or  service  request  represents  a  separate  distinct  performance  obligation  that  the 
Company  is  obligated  to  satisfy.  The  transaction  price  is  generally  in  the  form  of  a  fixed  fee  determined  at  the  inception  of  the  bill  of  lading  or  service 
request.  The  Company  allocates  the  transaction  price  to  each  distinct  performance  obligation  based  on  the  estimated  standalone  selling  price  for  each 
performance obligation. As each bill of lading or service request represents a separate distinct performance obligation, the estimated standalone selling price 
is assessed at an observable price which is fair market value. Certain customer agreements include variable consideration in the form of rebates, discounts, 
or  incentives.  The  expected  value  method  is  used  to  estimate  variable  consideration  and  is  allocated  to  the  applicable  performance  obligation  and  is 
recognized  when  the  related  performance  obligation  is  satisfied.  Additionally,  the  Company  offers  published  rates  for  services  through  public  tariff 
agreements in which a customer can request service, triggering a performance obligation the Company must satisfy. Railway freight revenues are recognized 
over time as services are provided based on the percentage of completed service method. Volume rebates to customers are accrued as a reduction of freight 
revenues based on estimated volumes and contract terms as freight service is provided. Freight revenues also include certain ancillary and other services 
provided in association with the performance of rail freight movements. Revenues from these activities are not material and therefore have been aggregated 
with the freight revenues from customer contracts with which they are associated.

Non-freight revenues, including revenues earned from passenger service operators, switching fees, and revenues from logistics services, are recognized at the 
point in time the services are provided or when the performance obligations are satisfied. Non-freight revenues also include leasing revenues. 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  109

Payment  by  customers  is  due  upon  satisfaction  of  performance  obligations.  Payment  terms  are  such  that  amounts  outstanding  at  the  period  end  are 
expected to be collected within one reporting period. The Company invoices customers at the time the bill of lading or service request is processed and 
therefore the Company has no material unbilled receivables and no contract assets. All performance obligations not fully satisfied at period end are expected 
to  be  satisfied  within  the  reporting  period  immediately  following. Contracted  customer  incentives  are  amortized  to  income  over  the  term  of  the  related 
revenue contract.

Income taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences 
between  the  financial  reporting  and  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities  using  enacted  tax  rates  and  laws  that  will  be  in  effect  when  the  differences  are 
expected to reverse.

The effect of a change in income tax rates on deferred income tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period during which the change occurs.

When  appropriate,  the  Company  records  a  valuation  allowance  against  deferred  tax  assets  to  reflect  that  these  tax  assets  may  not  be  realized.  In 
determining whether a valuation allowance is appropriate, CP considers whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of CP’s deferred tax assets 
will not be realized, based on management’s judgment using available evidence about future events.

At times, tax benefit claims may be challenged by a tax authority. Tax benefits are recognized only for tax positions that are more likely than not sustainable 
upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized 
upon settlement. A liability for “unrecognized tax benefits” is recorded for any tax benefits claimed in CP’s tax returns that do not meet these recognition 
and measurement standards.

Investment and other similar tax credits are deferred on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets and amortized to “Income tax expense” as the related 
asset is recognized in income. Income tax recovery or expense on items in "Accumulated other comprehensive loss" are recognized in "Income tax expense" 
as the related item is recognized in income.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share are calculated using the weighted-average number of the Company's Common Shares ("Common Shares") outstanding during the 
year. Diluted earnings per share are calculated using the treasury stock method for determining the dilutive effect of options.

Foreign currency translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, other than those held through foreign subsidiaries, are translated into Canadian dollars at the year-
end exchange rate for monetary items and at the historical exchange rates for non-monetary items. Foreign currency revenues and expenses are translated at 
the exchange rates in effect on the dates of the related transactions. Foreign exchange ("FX") gains and losses, other than those arising from the translation 
of the Company’s net investment in foreign subsidiaries, are included in income.

The accounts of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated into Canadian dollars using the year-end exchange rate for assets and liabilities and the 
average exchange rates during the year for revenues, expenses, gains, and losses. FX gains and losses arising from the translation of the foreign subsidiaries’ 
assets and liabilities are included in “Other comprehensive loss”. A portion of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt has been designated as a hedge of 
the net investment in foreign subsidiaries. As a result, unrealized FX gains and losses on U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt, designated as a hedge, are 
offset against FX gains and losses arising from the translation of foreign subsidiaries’ accounts in “Other comprehensive loss”.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include highly liquid short-term investments that are readily convertible to cash with original maturities of three months or less, 
but excludes cash and cash equivalents subject to restrictions.

Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable from customers are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost less allowance for expected credit 
losses. Losses on accounts receivable are estimated based on historical credit loss experience of receivables with similar risk characteristics. Historical loss 
experience is adjusted to reflect any management expectations that current or future conditions will differ from conditions that existed for the period over 
which historical information is evaluated.

To  determine  expected  credit  losses,  receivables  are  disaggregated  by  credit  characteristics,  type  of  customer  service,  customer  line  of  business,  and 
receivable aging. Receivables are considered to be in default and are written off against the allowance for credit losses when it is probable that all remaining 
contractual payments due will not be collected in accordance with the terms of the customer contracts. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written 
off are credited to earnings in the period recovered. 

 
110  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Materials and supplies
Materials and supplies are carried at the lower of average cost or market value and consist primarily of fuel and parts used in the repair and maintenance of 
track structures, equipment, locomotives and freight cars.

Properties
Fixed  asset  additions  and  major  renewals  are  recorded  at  cost,  including  direct  costs,  attributable  indirect  costs  and  carrying  costs,  less  accumulated 
depreciation and any impairment. When there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of property, a liability, when reliably estimable, is initially 
recognized at its fair value and a corresponding asset retirement cost is added to the gross book value of the related asset and amortized to expense over 
the estimated term to retirement. The Company reviews the carrying amounts of its properties whenever changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying 
amounts may not be recoverable based on future undiscounted cash flows. When such properties are determined to be impaired, recorded asset values are 
revised to their fair value and an impairment loss is recognized.

The Company recognizes expenditures as additions to properties or operating expenses based on whether the expenditures increase the output or service 
capacity,  lower  the  associated  operating  costs  or  extend  the  useful  life  of  the  properties  and  whether  the  expenditures  exceed  minimum  physical  and 
financial thresholds.

Much of the additions to properties, both new and replacement properties, are self-constructed. These are initially recorded at cost, including direct costs 
and attributable indirect costs, overheads and carrying costs. Direct costs include, among other things, labour costs, purchased services, equipment costs and 
material costs. Attributable indirect costs and overheads include incremental long-term variable costs resulting from the execution of capital projects. Indirect 
costs  mainly  include  work  trains,  material  distribution,  highway  vehicles  and  work  equipment.  Overheads  primarily  include  a  portion  of  the  engineering 
department’s costs, which plans, designs and administers these capital projects. These costs are allocated to projects by applying a measure consistent with 
the  nature  of  the  cost,  based  on  cost  studies.  For  replacement  properties,  the  project  costs  are  allocated  to  dismantling  and  installation  based  on  cost 
studies. Dismantling work, which is expensed, is performed concurrently with the installation.

Ballast programs including undercutting, shoulder ballasting and renewal programs that form part of the annual track program are capitalized as this work, 
and  the  related  added  ballast  material,  significantly  improves  drainage,  which  in  turn  extends  the  life  of  ties  and  other  track  materials.  These  costs  are 
tracked separately from the underlying assets and depreciated over the period to the next estimated similar ballast program. Spot replacement of ballast is 
considered a repair which is expensed as incurred.

The costs of large refurbishments are capitalized and locomotive overhauls are expensed as incurred, except where overhauls represent a betterment of the 
locomotive in which case costs are capitalized.

The Company capitalizes development costs for major new computer systems.

The  Company  follows  group  depreciation,  which  groups  assets  which  are  similar  in  nature  and  have  similar  economic  lives.  The  property  groups  are 
depreciated on a straight-line basis reflecting their expected economic lives determined by depreciation studies. Depreciation studies are regular reviews of 
asset service lives, salvage values, accumulated depreciation and other related factors. Depreciation rates are established through these studies. Actual use 
and retirement of assets may vary from current estimates, and would be identified in the next study. These changes in expected economic lives would impact 
the amount of depreciation expense recognized in future periods. All track assets are depreciated using a straight-line method which recognizes the value of 
the asset consumed as a percentage of the whole life of the asset.

When depreciable property is retired or otherwise disposed of in the normal course of business, the book value, less net salvage proceeds, is charged to 
accumulated depreciation and if different than the assumptions under the depreciation study could potentially result in adjusted depreciation expense over a 
period  of  years.  However,  when  removal  costs  exceed  the  salvage  value  on  assets  and  the  Company  has  no  legal  obligation  to  remove  the  assets,  the 
removal costs incurred are charged to income in the period in which the assets are removed and are not charged to accumulated depreciation.

For certain asset classes, the historical cost of the asset is separately recorded in the Company’s property records. This amount is retired from the property 
records upon retirement of the asset. For assets for which the historical cost cannot be separately identified the amount of the gross book value to be retired 
is estimated using either an indexation methodology, whereby the current replacement cost of the asset is indexed to the estimated year of installation for 
the asset, or a first-in, first-out approach, or statistical analysis is used to determine the age of the retired asset. CP uses indices that closely correlate to the 
principal costs of the assets.

There are a number of estimates inherent in the depreciation and retirement processes and as it is not possible to precisely estimate each of these variables 
until a group of property is completely retired, CP regularly monitors the estimated service lives of assets and the associated accumulated depreciation for 
each asset class to ensure depreciation rates are appropriate. If the recorded amounts of accumulated depreciation are greater or less than the amounts 
indicated by the depreciation studies, then the excess or deficit is amortized as a component of depreciation expense over the remaining service lives of the 
applicable asset classes.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  111

For the sale or retirement of larger groups of depreciable assets that are unusual and were not considered in the Company’s depreciation studies, CP records 
a gain or loss for the difference between net proceeds and net book value of the assets sold or retired. The accumulated depreciation to be retired includes 
asset-specific accumulated depreciation, when known, and an appropriate portion of the accumulated depreciation recorded for the relevant asset class as a 
whole, calculated using a cost-based allocation.

Revisions to the estimated useful lives and net salvage projections constitute a change in accounting estimate and are addressed prospectively by amending 
depreciation rates. 

Equipment under finance lease is included in Properties and depreciated over the period of expected use.

Leases
The Company has leases for rolling stock, buildings, vehicles, railway equipment, roadway machines, and information systems hardware. CP has entered into 
rolling stock and roadway machine leases that are fully variable or contain both fixed and variable components. Variable components are dependent on the 
hours and miles that the underlying equipment has been used. Fixed term, short-term, and variable operating lease costs are recorded in "Equipment rents" 
and  "Purchased  services  and  other"  on  the  Company's  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income.  Components  of  finance  lease  costs  are  recorded  in 
"Depreciation and amortization" and "Net interest expense" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income.

The Company determines lease existence and classification at the lease inception date. Leases are identified when an agreement conveys the right to control 
identified property for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company recognizes both an operating lease liability and right-of-use (“ROU”) 
asset for operating leases with fixed terms and in-substance fixed terms. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and 
lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating and finance lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized 
at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease payments include fixed and variable payments 
that  are  based  on  an  index  or  a  rate.  If  the  Company's  leases  do  not  provide  a  readily  determinable  implicit  interest  rate,  the  Company  uses  internal 
incremental  secured  borrowing  rates  for  comparable  tenor  in  the  same  currency  at  the  commencement  date  in  determining  the  present  value  of  lease 
payments. Operating and finance lease ROU assets also include lease prepayments and initial direct costs, but are reduced by lease incentives. The lease 
term may include periods associated with options to extend or exclude periods associated with options to terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain 
that the Company will exercise these options.

The  Company  has  short-term  operating  leases  with  terms  of  12  months  or  less,  some  of  which  include  options  to  purchase  that  the  Company  is  not 
reasonably certain to exercise. The Company has elected to apply the recognition exemption and, as such, accounts for leases with a term of 12 months or 
less off-balance sheet. Therefore, lease payments on these short-term operating leases are not included in operating lease ROU assets and liabilities, but are 
recognized as an expense in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Further, the Company has 
elected to combine lease and non-lease components for all leases, except for leases of roadway machines and information systems hardware.

Assets held for sale
Assets to be disposed that meet the held for sale criteria are reported in "Other assets" at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value, less costs to 
sell, and are no longer depreciated.

Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets upon acquisition of a business. Goodwill is assigned to the 
reporting units that are expected to benefit from the business acquisition which, after integration of operations with the railway network, may be different 
than the acquired business.

The carrying value of goodwill, which is not amortized, is assessed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter of each year as at October 1st, or more 
frequently as economic events dictate. The Company has the option of performing an assessment of certain qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely 
than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value or proceeding directly to a quantitative impairment test. Qualitative factors 
include  but  are  not  limited  to,  economic,  market  and  industry  conditions,  cost  factors  and  overall  financial  performance  of  the  reporting  unit.  If  the 
assessment of qualitative factors indicates that the carrying value is less than the fair value, then performing the quantitative goodwill impairment test is 
unnecessary.  The  quantitative  assessment  compares  the  fair  value  of  the  reporting  unit  to  its  carrying  value,  including  goodwill. If  the  fair  value  of  the 
reporting unit is less than its carrying value, goodwill is impaired. The impairment charge that would be recognized is the excess of the carrying value over 
the fair value of the reporting unit, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Favourable leases, customer 
relationships  and  interline  contracts  have  amortization  periods  ranging  from 15  to  20  years.  When  there  is  a  change  in  the  estimated  useful  life  of  an 
intangible asset with a finite life, amortization is adjusted prospectively.

 
112  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Pensions and other benefits
Pension  costs  are  actuarially  determined  using  the  projected-benefit  method  pro-rated  over  the  credited  service  periods  of  employees.  This  method 
incorporates  management’s  best  estimates  of  expected  plan  investment  performance,  salary  escalation  and  retirement  ages  of  employees.  The  expected 
return  on  fund  assets  is  calculated  using  market-related  asset  values  developed  from  a  five-year  average  of  market  values  for  the  fund’s  public  equity 
securities  and  absolute  return  strategies  (with  each  prior  year’s  market  value  adjusted  to  the  current  date  for  assumed  investment  income  during  the 
intervening period) plus the market value of the fund’s fixed income, real estate, infrastructure and private debt securities, subject to the market-related 
asset  value  not  being  greater  than  120%  of  the  market  value  nor  being  less  than  80%  of  the  market  value.  The  discount  rate  used  to  determine  the 
projected-benefit obligation is based on blended market interest rates on high-quality debt instruments with matching cash flows. Unrecognized actuarial 
gains  and  losses  in  excess  of 10%  of  the  greater  of  the  benefit  obligation  and  the  market-related  value  of  plan  assets  are  amortized  over  the  expected 
average remaining service period of active employees expected to receive benefits under the plan (approximately 12 years). Prior service costs arising from 
collectively bargained amendments to pension plan benefit provisions are amortized over the term of the applicable union agreement. Prior service costs 
arising from all other sources are amortized over the expected average remaining service period of active employees who are expected to receive benefits 
under the plan at the date of amendment.

Costs for post-retirement and post-employment benefits other than pensions, including post-retirement health care and life insurance and some workers’ 
compensation and long-term disability benefits in Canada, are actuarially determined on a basis similar to pension costs.

The over or under funded status of defined benefit pension and other post-retirement benefit plans are measured as the difference between the fair value of 
the plan assets and the benefit obligation, and are recognized on the balance sheets. In addition, any unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and prior 
service costs and credits that arise during the period are recognized as a component of “Other comprehensive loss”, net of tax.

Gains and losses on post-employment benefits that do not vest or accumulate, including some workers’ compensation and long-term disability benefits in 
Canada, are included immediately on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income as "Other components of net periodic benefit cost or recovery".

The current service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is reported in "Compensation and benefits" for pensions and post-retirement benefits, and in 
"Purchased  services  and  other"  for  self-insured  workers'  compensation  and  long-term  disability  benefits  on  the  Company's  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Income. Other components of net periodic benefit cost or recovery are reported in "Other components of net periodic benefit cost or recovery" outside of 
Operating income on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income. 

Capitalization of pension costs, when applicable, is restricted to the current service cost component of net periodic benefit cost.

Financial instruments
Financial instruments are contracts that give rise to a financial asset of one party and a financial liability or equity instrument of another party. Financial 
instruments are recognized initially at fair value, which is the amount of consideration that would be agreed upon in an arm’s-length transaction between 
willing parties.

Subsequent measurement depends on how the financial instruments have been classified. Accounts receivable and other investments, classified as loans and 
receivables, are measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method. Cash and cash equivalents and derivatives are classified as held for trading 
and  are  measured  at  fair  value.  Accounts  payable,  accrued  liabilities,  short-term  borrowings,  other  long-term  liabilities,  and  long-term  debt  are  also 
measured at amortized cost.

Derivative financial instruments
Derivative financial and commodity instruments may be used from time to time by the Company to manage its exposure to risks relating to foreign currency 
exchange rates, stock-based compensation, interest rates, and fuel prices. When CP utilizes derivative instruments in hedging relationships, CP identifies, 
designates,  and  documents  those  hedging  transactions  and  regularly  tests  the  transactions  to  demonstrate  effectiveness  in  order  to  continue  hedge 
accounting.

All derivative instruments are classified as held for trading and recorded at fair value. Any change in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as 
hedges is recognized in the period in which the change occurs in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income in the line item to which the derivative 
instrument is related.

For  fair  value  hedges,  the  periodic  changes  in  value  are  recognized  in  income,  on  the  same  line  as  the  changes  in  value  of  the  hedged  items  are  also 
recorded. For an effective cash flow hedge, the entire change in value of the hedging instrument is recognized in “Other comprehensive loss”. The change in 
value of the effective cash flow hedge remains in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” until the related hedged item settles, at which time amounts 
recognized in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” are reclassified to the same income or balance sheet account that records the hedged item.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  113

Cash  flows  relating  to  derivative  instruments  designated  as  hedges  are  included  in  the  same  line  as  the  related  hedged  items  on  the  Company's 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Environmental remediation
Environmental remediation accruals, recorded on an undiscounted basis unless a reliably determinable estimate as to amount and timing of costs can be 
established, cover site-specific remediation programs. The accruals are recorded when the costs to remediate are probable and reasonably estimable. Certain 
future costs to monitor sites are discounted at an adjusted risk-free rate. Provisions for environmental remediation costs are recorded in “Other long-term 
liabilities”, except for the current portion, which is recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities”.

Stock-based compensation
CP follows the fair value based approach to account for stock options. Compensation expense and an increase in “Additional paid-in capital” are recognized 
for stock options over their vesting period or over the period from the grant date to the date employees become eligible to retire, when this is shorter than 
the vesting period, based on their fair values on the grant date as determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Forfeitures are estimated at 
issuance and monitored on a periodic basis. Any consideration paid by employees on exercise of stock options is credited to “Share capital” when the option 
is exercised and the recorded fair value of the option is removed from “Additional paid-in capital" and credited to “Share capital”.

Compensation expense is also recognized for performance share units (“PSUs”), performance deferred share units ("PDSUs"), deferred share units ("DSUs"), 
and restricted share units (“RSUs”) that settle in cash using the fair value method. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period or over the 
period from the grant date to the date employees become eligible to retire, when this is shorter than the vesting period where applicable. Forfeitures are 
estimated at issuance and monitored on a periodic basis.

The employee share purchase plan gives rise to compensation expense that is recognized using the issue price by amortizing the cost over the vesting period.

2.    Accounting changes
Implemented in 2020 
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses
On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board 
("FASB"), and all related amendments under FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. Using a 
modified retrospective approach, the Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to its opening retained earnings balance in the period of adoption. 
Accordingly,  comparative  financial  information  has  not  been  restated  and  continues  to  be  reported  under  the  accounting  standards  in  effect  for  those 
periods. 

The impact of the adoption of ASC 326 as at January 1, 2020 was an increase in the allowance for credit losses of $1 million, with the offsets to "Deferred 
income taxes" and "Retained earnings" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 9 for further discussion of the current period credit loss. 

Simplification of Financial Disclosures about Guarantors
During  the  second  quarter  of  2020,  the  Company  early  adopted  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  amendments  to  the  financial  disclosure 
requirements  for  guarantors  and  issuers  of  guaranteed  securities,  as  specified  in  Rule  3-10  of  Regulation  S-X.  The  amendments  simplify  disclosure 
requirements  by  replacing  condensed  consolidating  financial  information  (“CCFI”)  with  summarized  financial  information  and  expanded  qualitative  non-
financial  disclosures  about  the  guarantees,  issuers,  and  guarantors.  This  disclosure  can  be  found  in  Item  7.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of 
Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources.

 
114  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

3.    Revenues
The following table disaggregates the Company’s revenues from contracts with customers by major source: 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

2020 

2019  

2018 

Freight

Grain

Coal

Potash

Fertilizers and sulphur

Forest products

Energy, chemicals and plastics

Metals, minerals and consumer products

Automotive

Intermodal

Total freight revenues

Non-freight excluding leasing revenues

Revenues from contracts with customers

Leasing revenues

Total revenues

$ 

1,829  $ 

1,684  $ 

1,566 

566   

493   

290   

328   

1,519   

629   

324   

1,563   

7,541   

107   

7,648   

62   

682   

462   

250   

304   

1,534   

752   

352   

1,593   

7,613   

116   

7,729   

63   

$ 

7,710  $ 

7,792  $ 

673 

486 

243 

284 

1,243 

797 

322 

1,538 

7,152 

102 

7,254 

62 

7,316 

Contract liabilities       
Contract  liabilities  represent  payments  received  for  performance  obligations  not  yet  satisfied  and  relate  to  deferred  revenue  and  are  presented  as 
components of "Accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "Other long-term liabilities" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

The following table summarizes the changes in contract liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Opening balance

Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period
Increase due to consideration received, net of revenue recognized during the period

Closing balance

$ 

$ 

4.    Other (income) expense 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt and lease liabilities

Other foreign exchange (gains) losses

Other

Other (income) expense

2020

(14)  $ 

(1)   

8   

(7)  $ 

$ 

$ 

2020

146  $ 

(100)   
15   

61  $ 

2019

(94)  $ 

(4)   

9   

(89)  $ 

2019

2 

(2) 
146 

146 

2018

168 

3 

3 

174 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  115

5.    Net interest expense 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Interest cost

Interest capitalized to Properties

Interest expense

Interest income

Net interest expense

2020

478  $ 

(16)   

462   

(4)   

458  $ 

$ 

$ 

2019

471  $ 

(17)   

454   

(6)   

448  $ 

Interest expense includes interest on finance leases of $11 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2019 – $11 million; 2018 – $11 million).

6.    Income taxes
The following is a summary of the major components of the Company’s income tax expense:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Current income tax expense

Deferred income tax expense

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Effect of tax rate decrease

Effect of hedge of net investment in foreign subsidiaries

Other

Total deferred income tax expense

Total income taxes

Income before income tax expense

Canada

Foreign

Total income before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Current

Canada

Foreign

Total current income tax expense

Deferred

Canada

Foreign

Total deferred income tax expense

Total income taxes

2020

537  $ 

2019

525  $ 

277   

(32)   

(18)   

(6)   

221   

758  $ 

2,518  $ 

684   

3,202  $ 

412  $ 

125   

537   

231   

(10)   

221   

758  $ 

316   

(95)   

(38)   

(2)   

181   

706  $ 

2,392  $ 

754   

3,146  $ 

410  $ 

115   

525   

141   

40   

181   

706  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2018

475 

(20) 

455 

(2) 

453 

2018

381 

214 

(21) 

64 

(1) 

256 

637 

1,788 

800 

2,588 

336 

45 

381 

174 

82 

256 

637 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
116  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The provision for deferred income taxes arises from temporary differences in the carrying values of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income 
tax purposes and the effect of loss carry forwards. The items comprising the deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Deferred income tax assets

Amount related to tax losses carried forward

Liabilities carrying value in excess of tax basis

Unrealized foreign exchange losses

Environmental remediation costs

Other

Total net deferred income tax assets
Deferred income tax liabilities

Properties carrying value in excess of tax basis

Pensions carrying value in excess of tax basis
Other

Total deferred income tax liabilities

Total net deferred income tax liabilities

2020

2019

17  $ 

131   

4   

22   

4   

178   

6 

139 

26 

22 

4 

197 

3,708   

3,524 

43   

93   

3,844   

3,666  $ 

83 

91 

3,698 

3,501 

$ 

$ 

The Company’s consolidated effective income tax rate differs from the expected Canadian statutory tax rates. Expected income tax expense at statutory rates 
is reconciled to income tax expense as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except percentage)
Statutory federal and provincial income tax rate (Canada)

2020

 26.31 %

2019

 26.77 %

Expected income tax expense at Canadian enacted statutory tax rates

$ 

842 

$ 

842 

$ 

(Decrease) increase in taxes resulting from:

(Gains) losses not subject to tax

Canadian tax rate differentials

Foreign tax rate differentials

Effect of tax rate decrease

Valuation allowance

Unrecognized tax benefits

Other

Income tax expense

(23) 

(3) 

(32) 

(32) 

— 

(7) 

13 

(19) 

— 

(33) 

(95) 

(5) 

33 

(17) 

$ 

758 

$ 

706 

$ 

2018

 26.86 %

695 

8 

— 

(55) 

(21) 

5 

— 

5 

637 

In  2020,  the  Company  revalued  its  deferred  income  tax  balances  as  a  result  of  a  tax  filing  election  for  the  state  of  North  Dakota  resulting  in  a  lower 
corporate income tax rate and a net recovery of $29 million.

In 2019, the Company revalued its deferred income tax balances as a result of a corporate income tax rate decrease in the province of Alberta, resulting in a 
net recovery of $88 million. 

In 2018,  the  Company  revalued  its  deferred  income  tax  balances  as  a  result  of  corporate  income  tax  rate  decreases  in  the  states  of  Iowa  and  Missouri, 
resulting in a net recovery of $21 million.

The Company has not provided a deferred liability for the income taxes, if any, which might become payable on any temporary difference associated with its 
foreign investments because the Company intends to indefinitely reinvest in its foreign investments and has no intention to realize this difference by a sale of 
its interest in foreign investments. It is not practical to calculate the amount of the deferred tax liability.

It is more likely than not that the Company will realize the majority of its deferred income tax assets from the generation of future taxable income, as the 
payments for provisions, reserves and accruals are made and losses and tax credits carried forward are utilized.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  117

At December 31, 2020, the Company had tax effected operating losses carried forward of $15 million (2019 – $4 million), which have been recognized as a 
deferred tax asset. The losses carried forward will begin to expire in 2031. The Company expects to fully utilize these tax effected operating losses before 
their expiry. The Company did not have any minimum tax credits or investment tax credits carried forward. 

At December 31, 2020, the Company had $2 million (2019 – $2 million) in tax effected capital losses carried forward recognized as a deferred tax asset. The 
Company has no unrecognized tax benefits from capital losses at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

The following table provides a reconciliation of uncertain tax positions in relation to unrecognized tax benefits for Canada and the U.S. for the year ended 
December 31:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Unrecognized tax benefits at January 1

Increase in unrecognized:

Tax benefits related to the current year

Tax benefits related to prior years

Dispositions:

Gross uncertain tax benefits related to prior years

Settlements with taxing authorities

Unrecognized tax benefits at December 31

2020

2019

$ 

52  $ 

13  $ 

2018

13 

—   

10   

(9)   

2   

55  $ 

9   

34   

—   

(4)   

52  $ 

1 

— 

(1) 

— 

13 

$ 

If these uncertain tax positions were recognized, all of the amount of unrecognized tax positions as at December 31, 2020 would impact the Company’s 
effective tax rate.

During  the  fourth  quarter  of  2019,  a  tax  authority  proposed  an  adjustment  for  a  prior  tax  year  without  assessing  taxes.  Although  the  Company  had 
commenced action to have the proposal removed, an increase in uncertain tax position was recorded on deferred income tax liability and expense in the 
amount  of  $24  million.  While  the  proposed  adjustment  was  withdrawn  during  2020,  the  ultimate  resolution  of  this  matter  may  give  rise  to  further 
favourable or unfavourable adjustments to deferred tax, the timing and amount of which are not determinable at this time. 

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of "Income tax expense" in the Company’s 
Consolidated Statements of Income. The net amount of accrued interest and penalties in 2020 was a $1 million recovery (2019 – $1 million recovery; 2018 
– $nil). The total amount of accrued interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2020 was $9 million (2019 – $10 
million; 2018 – $11 million).

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to either Canadian federal and provincial income tax, U.S. federal, state and local income tax, or the relevant 
income tax in other international jurisdictions. The Company has substantially concluded all Canadian federal and provincial income tax matters for the years 
through 2014. The federal and provincial income tax returns filed for 2015 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by the Canadian taxation 
authorities. The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") audit for 2012 and 2013 has been settled. The income tax returns for 2016 and subsequent years continue 
to remain subject to examination by the IRS and U.S. state tax jurisdictions. The Company believes that it has recorded sufficient income tax reserves at 
December 31, 2020 with respect to these income tax examinations.

7.     Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share has been calculated using Net income for the year divided by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the year. 

Diluted earnings per share has been calculated using the treasury stock method which assumes that any proceeds received from the exercise of in-the-money 
options would be used to purchase CP Common Shares at the average market price for the period. For purposes of this calculation, at December 31, 2020, 
there were 1.4 million dilutive options outstanding (2019 – 1.6 million; 2018 – 1.3 million).

 
 
 
 
 
118  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The number of shares used in the earnings per share calculations are reconciled as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)

Net income

Weighted-average basic shares outstanding (millions)

Dilutive effect of stock options (millions)

Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding (millions)

Earnings per share – basic

Earnings per share – diluted

2020

2,444  $ 

135.5   

0.5   

136.0   

18.05  $ 

17.97  $ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

2019

2,440  $ 

138.8   

0.5   

139.3   

17.58  $ 

17.52  $ 

2018

1,951 

142.9 

0.4 

143.3 

13.65 

13.61 

In 2020, there were no options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share (2019 – nil; 2018 – 0.2 million).

 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  119

8.     Other comprehensive loss and accumulated other comprehensive loss
The components of Other comprehensive loss and the related tax effects are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
For the year ended December 31, 2020

Unrealized foreign exchange (loss) gain on:

Before
tax amount

Income tax 
(expense) 
recovery 

Net of tax
amount

Translation of the net investment in U.S. subsidiaries

$ 

(118)  $ 

—  $ 

Translation of the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt designated as a hedge of the net 
investment in U.S. subsidiaries (Note 17)

Realized loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges recognized in income

Change in pension and other benefits actuarial gains and losses

Change in prior service pension and other benefit costs

Other comprehensive loss

For the year ended December 31, 2019

Unrealized foreign exchange (loss) gain on:

Translation of the net investment in U.S. subsidiaries

Translation of the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt designated as a hedge of the net 
investment in U.S. subsidiaries (Note 17)

Realized loss on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges recognized in income

Change in pension and other benefits actuarial gains and losses

Other comprehensive loss

For the year ended December 31, 2018

Unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss) on:

Translation of the net investment in U.S. subsidiaries

Translation of the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt designated as a hedge of the net 
investment in U.S. subsidiaries (Note 17)

Change in derivatives designated as cash flow hedges:

Realized loss on cash flow hedges recognized in income

Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges and other

Change in pension and other benefits actuarial gains and losses

Change in prior service pension and other benefit costs

Other comprehensive loss

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

136   

9   

(403)   

(4)   

(18)   

(3)   

108   

1   

(380)  $ 

88  $ 

(251)  $ 

—  $ 

288   

10   

(661)   

(614)  $ 

419  $ 

(479)   

10   

28   

(447)   

(2)   

(471)  $ 

(38)   

(2)   

175   

135  $ 

—  $ 

64   

(3)   

(8)   

115   

1   

169  $ 

The components of Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Unrealized foreign exchange gain on translation of the net investment in U.S. subsidiaries

Unrealized foreign exchange loss on translation of the U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt designated as a 
hedge of the net investment in U.S. subsidiaries

Net deferred losses on derivatives and other

Amounts for defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plans not recognized in income (Note 22)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

2020

493  $ 

(381)   

(48)   

(2,878)   

(2,814)  $ 

$ 

$ 

(118) 

118 

6 

(295) 

(3) 

(292) 

(251) 

250 

8 

(486) 

(479) 

419 

(415) 

7 

20 

(332) 

(1) 

(302) 

2019

611 

(499) 

(54) 

(2,580) 

(2,522) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
120  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss by component are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Opening balance, January 1, 2020

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

Net other comprehensive income (loss)

Closing balance, December 31, 2020

Opening balance, January 1, 2019

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

Net other comprehensive (loss) income

Closing balance, December 31, 2019

(1) Amounts are presented net of tax.

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Foreign currency
net of hedging
activities(1)

Derivatives and
other(1)

Pension and post-
retirement defined
benefit plans(1)

Total(1)

112  $ 

(54)  $ 

(2,580)  $ 

(2,522) 

—   

—   

—   

112  $ 

113  $ 

(1)   

—   

(1)   

112  $ 

(2)   

8   

6   

(48)  $ 

(62)  $ 

—   

8   

8   

(54)  $ 

(430)   

132   

(298)   

(432) 

140 

(292) 

(2,878)  $ 

(2,814) 

(2,094)  $ 

(2,043) 

(550)   

64   

(486)   

(551) 

72 

(479) 

(2,580)  $ 

(2,522) 

Amounts in Pension and post-retirement defined benefit plans reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Amortization of prior service costs(1)
Recognition of net actuarial loss(1)
Total before income tax

Income tax recovery

Total net of income tax

2020

2019

$ 

$ 

(1)  $ 

180   

179   

(47)   

132  $ 

— 

84 

84 

(20) 

64 

Total

847 

(42) 

805 

(1) Impacts "Other components of net periodic benefit recovery" on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

9.     Accounts receivable, net 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Total accounts receivable

Allowance for credit losses

Total accounts receivable, net

As at December 31, 2020

As at December 31, 2019(1)

Freight

Non-Freight

Total

Freight

Non-Freight

$ 

$ 

662  $ 

(25)   

637  $ 

203  $ 

(15)   

188  $ 

865  $ 
(40)   

825  $ 

637  $ 

(26)   

611  $ 

210  $ 

(16)   

194  $ 

(1) Prior year amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method (Note 2).

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Allowance for credit losses, opening balance(1)
Current period credit loss provision, net

Allowance for credit losses, closing balance

(1) Opening balance at January 1, 2020 was restated as described in Note 2.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2020

Freight

Non-Freight

(27)  $ 

2   

(25)  $ 

(16)  $ 

1   

(15)  $ 

$ 

$ 

Total

(43) 

3 

(40) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  121

10.    Business combinations
DRTP 
On  December  22,  2020,  CP  completed  its  acquisition  of  the  83.5%  ownership  of  the  Detroit  River  Tunnel  Partnership  (“DRTP”)  held  by  OMERS 
Infrastructure Management Inc. (“OMERS”) for cash, net of cash acquired, of $398 million. The purchase price is subject to customary closing adjustments, 
including  any  final  adjustment  for  closing  working  capital  and  certain  closing  costs.  With  this  acquisition  CP  obtained  100%  ownership  of  DRTP.  The 
acquisition of DRTP will reduce CP’s operating costs related to movements through the tunnel which amounted to approximately $34 million in 2020, and 
better integrate the eastern part of the network. DRTP owns a 1.6-mile rail tunnel linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan and additional, separate 
lands in both cities. The acquisition was funded with cash from operations and CP's commercial paper program.	

The acquisition of DRTP has been accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. The acquired assets and assumed 
liabilities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The fair values were estimated by applying an income approach using the 
discounted  cash  flow  method  of  future  cash  flows,  appraised  land  values  reflecting  a  corridor  enhancement  factor  where  appropriate,  and  depreciated 
replacement cost for depreciable assets including the tunnel, track, signaling systems, and other railway related infrastructure assets.

Prior to the close of the transaction, CP owned a 16.5% interest in DRTP, which was accounted for as an equity method investment. The previously held 
equity investment was remeasured to fair value which was determined from the negotiated purchase price that reflected a market value established in a 
competitive bid process. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized a before-tax gain of $68 million on the remeasurement to fair value of its 
equity interest within "Purchased services and other", calculated as the difference between the fair value of CP's 16.5% interest in DRTP of $81 million and 
the book value of the interest of $13 million.

The purchase price allocation was prepared on a preliminary basis and is subject to change as additional information becomes available concerning the fair 
value and tax bases of the net assets acquired. Any adjustments to the purchase price allocation will be made as soon as practicable but no later than one 
year from the date of acquisition.

The following summarizes the estimated fair values of the acquired assets and liabilities of DRTP:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Fair value of net assets acquired: 

Accounts receivable, net

Properties

Intangible assets (Note 13)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Deferred taxes

Total identifiable assets and liabilities

Goodwill (Note 13)

Consideration:

Cash, net of cash acquired

Fair value of previously held equity method investment

Total consideration

December 22, 2020

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

5 

436 

4 

(1) 

(55) 

389 

90 

479 

398 

81 

479 

The  goodwill  of  $90  million  relates  primarily  to  the  contract  that  DRTP  has  for  CP’s  use  of  the  tunnel  and  deferred  taxes  recognized  as  a  result  of  the 
purchase price allocation. The goodwill recognized is not deductible for tax purposes. 

Prior  to  the  acquisition  of  DRTP,  CP  had  pre-existing  agreements  to  use  the  tunnel  and  to  operate  and  manage  the  tunnel  on  behalf  of  DRTP.    On 
acquisition, no gain or loss was recognized in respect of the effective settlement of these pre-existing relationships as they were determined to be at fair 
market value based on an assessment of current market conditions and market participants. 

Acquired cash and cash equivalents of $6 million is presented as a reduction of cash used in investing activities in the Company's Consolidated Statements 
of Cash Flows.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
122  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

CP has not provided pro forma information relating to the pre-acquisition period as it is not material.

CMQ 
On December 30, 2019, CP purchased 100% of Central Maine & Québec Railway Canada Inc. (“CMQ Canada”) and Central Maine & Québec Railway U.S. 
Inc. (“CMQ U.S.”) (together “CMQ”) for cash consideration of $174 million. CMQ owns 237 miles of rail lines in Québec and 244 miles of rail lines in Maine 
and Vermont. 

CMQ U.S.
The acquisition of CMQ U.S. was subject to approval from the United States Surface Transportation Board ("STB"). From the December 30, 2019 date of 
purchase, all purchased shares of CMQ U.S. were held in an independent voting trust (the "Trust") pending the STB's approval of CP's application for control 
of CMQ U.S. Approval was granted with an effective date of June 3, 2020. Between December 30, 2019 and June 3, 2020, CP accounted for its acquisition 
of  CMQ  U.S.  as  an  equity  method  investment.  During  this  time,  CP  paid  additional  consideration  for  CMQ  of $3  million,  representing  changes  from  the 
finalization of previously estimated closing date working capital. 

On June 3, 2020 the Trust was dissolved and CP assumed control of CMQ U.S. At this time, CP accounted for its acquisition in CMQ U.S. as a business 
combination using the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the acquired tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities were recorded at 
their estimated fair values as at June 3, 2020 and results from operations and cash flows were consolidated prospectively. There was no material change in 
the acquisition-date fair value of the equity interest held by the Company in CMQ U.S. immediately before the acquisition date. Fair values were determined 
primarily through the use of an income approach.

After a measurement period adjustment of $1 million to increase Other long-term liabilities and goodwill resulting from the finalization of acquisition date 
deferred tax, the final allocation of total consideration to the fair values of the acquired assets and liabilities of CMQ U.S. is summarized as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Fair value of net assets acquired: 

Cash and cash equivalents

Accounts receivable, net

Properties

Intangible assets (Note 13)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Other long-term liabilities

Total identifiable assets and liabilities

Goodwill (Note 13)

Consideration:

Fair value of previously held equity method investment

June 3, 2020

22 

2 

54 

27 

(13) 

(6) 

86 

52 

138 

138 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

Goodwill of $52 million relates primarily to expected operating business synergies between the Company and CMQ U.S. The factors that contribute to the 
goodwill are revenue growth from customers which are currently not served by CP, access to new routes, and an assembled workforce. Goodwill recognized 
is not deductible for tax purposes.

Intangible assets of $27 million reflect customer lists acquired in the purchase of CMQ U.S., and have amortization periods of 20 years. 

Acquired cash and cash equivalents of $22 million is presented as a reduction of cash used in investing activities on the Company's Consolidated Statement 
of Cash Flows, and is presented net of finalized closing working capital adjustments for CMQ of $3 million as described above.

CP has not provided pro forma information relating to the pre-acquisition period as it is not material.

CMQ Canada
The  acquisition  of  CMQ  Canada  was  accounted  for  as  a  business  combination  under  the  acquisition  method  of  accounting.  The  acquired  tangible  and 
intangible assets and assumed liabilities are recorded at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  123

There have been no adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation. The final purchase price and allocation of the total consideration to the fair 
values of assets and liabilities acquired for CMQ Canada is summarized as follows: 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Fair value of net assets acquired: 

Accounts receivable, net

Properties

Intangible assets (Note 13)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Long-term debt maturing within one year (Note 16)

Other long-term liabilities

Total identifiable assets and liabilities

Goodwill (Note 13)

Consideration:

Cash, net of cash acquired

December 30, 2019

$ 

$ 

$ 

7 

42 

5 

(2) 

(11) 

(4) 

37 

10 

47 

47 

The goodwill of $10 million relates primarily to expected operating business synergies. The factors that contribute to the goodwill are revenue growth from 
customers  which  are  currently  not  served  by  CP,  access  to  new  routes  and  an  assembled  workforce.  The  goodwill  recognized  is  not  deductible  for  tax 
purposes. 

CP has not provided pro forma information relating to the pre-acquisition period as it is not material.

11.     Investments

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Investment in CMQ U.S. accounted for on an equity basis (Note 10)

Other rail investments accounted for on an equity basis

2020

—  $ 

150   

49   

199  $ 

$ 

$ 

2019

127 

166 

48 

341 

Other investments

Total investments

12.      Properties

(in millions of Canadian dollars 
except percentages)
Track and roadway

Buildings

Rolling stock
Information systems software(1)
Other

Total

2020

2020

2019

Weighted-average 
annual depreciation rate

Cost

Accumulated
depreciation

Net book
value

Cost

Accumulated
depreciation

Net book
value

 2.8 % $  20,676  $ 

5,859  $  14,817  $ 

19,299  $ 

5,522  $ 

13,777 

 2.9 %  

 2.8 %  

 9.3 %  

 5.2 %  

937 

4,702 

569 

2,167 

259 

1,498 

253 

760 

678 

3,204 

316 

1,407 

833 

4,529 

527 

2,067 

237 

1,445 

215 

680 

596 

3,084 

312 

1,387 

$  29,051  $ 

8,629  $  20,422  $ 

27,255  $ 

8,099  $ 

19,156 

(1) During 2020, CP capitalized costs attributable to the design and development of internal-use software in the amount of $45 million (2019 – $55 million; 2018 – $53 million). Current 

year depreciation expense related to internal use software was $42 million (2019 – $44 million; 2018 – $49 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
124  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Finance leases included in properties 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Rolling stock

Other

Cost

302   

8   

Total assets held under finance lease

$ 

310  $ 

13.     Goodwill and intangible assets

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Balance at December 31, 2018

Additions (Note 10)

Amortization

Foreign exchange impact

Balance at December 31, 2019

Additions (Note 10)

Amortization

Foreign exchange impact

Goodwill

Net
carrying
amount

$ 

194 

$ 

10 

— 

(10) 

194 

142 

— 

(7) 

2019

Accumulated
depreciation

130   

—   

130  $ 

Cost

303   

4   

307  $ 

Net book
value

173 

4 

177 

2020

Accumulated
depreciation

Net book
value

138   

1   

139  $ 

164   

7   

171  $ 

Intangible assets

Accumulated
amortization

Net
carrying
amount

Total goodwill and 
intangible assets

Cost

22  $ 

5   

—   

—   

27   

31   

—   

(3)   

(14)  $ 

8  $ 

—   

(1)   

—   

(15)   

—   

(3)   

—   

5   

(1)   

—   

12   

31   

(3)   

(3)   

Balance at December 31, 2020

$ 

329 

$ 

55  $ 

(18)  $ 

37  $ 

14.     Other assets

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Operating lease ROU assets (Note 19)

Contracted customer incentives

Long-term materials

Other

Total other assets

$ 

$ 

2020

316  $ 

60   

37   

25   

438  $ 

202 

15 

(1) 

(10) 

206 

173 

(3) 

(10) 

366 

2019

358 

32 

41 

20 

451 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15.     Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Trade payables

Accrued charges

Accrued interest

Dividends payable

Stock-based compensation liabilities

Income and other taxes payable

Payroll-related accruals

Operating lease liabilities (Note 19)

Accrued vacation

Personal injury and other claims provision
Deferred revenue (Note 3)
Deferred real estate lease and license revenue(1)
Provision for environmental remediation (Note 18)
Other(1)
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(1) 2019 comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with current presentation.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  125

2020

401  $ 

$ 

294   

134   

127   

121   

115   

68   

63   

59   

37   

27   

11   

9   

1   

2019

453 

348 

131 

114 

85 

139 

78 

69 

60 

55 

142 

10 

7 

2 

$ 

1,467  $ 

1,693 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
126  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

16.     Debt
Long-term  debt  includes  debt  instruments  and  finance  lease  obligations.  The  following  table  outlines  the  Company's  outstanding  long-term  debt  as  at 
December 31, 2020:

Currency
in which
payable

2020

2019

(in millions of Canadian dollars except percentages)
9.450%

30-year Debentures 

5.100%

4.500%

4.450%

2.900%

3.700%

4.000%

3.150%

2.050%
7.125%

5.750%

4.800%

5.950%

6.450%

5.750%

4.800%

3.050%

6.125%

8.000%

5.41%

6.91%

7.49%

10-year Medium Term Notes 

10-year Notes 

12.5-year Notes 

10-year Notes 

10.5-year Notes

10-year Notes

10-year Notes

10-year Notes

30-year Debentures 

30-year Debentures 

20-year Notes 
30-year Notes

30-year Notes 

30-year Notes 

30-year Notes 

30-year Notes

100-year Notes 

5-year Promissory Notes

Senior Secured Notes 

Secured Equipment Notes 

Equipment Trust Certificates 

Obligations under finance leases
1.99% -2.97%

6.99%

6.57%

12.77%

Commercial Paper

Perpetual 4% Consolidated Debenture Stock 

Perpetual 4% Consolidated Debenture Stock 

Unamortized fees on long-term debt

Less: Long-term debt maturing within one year

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(A)

(B)

(C)

(D)

(E)

(F)

(F)

(F)

(F)

(G)

(G)

Maturity

Aug 2021

Jan 2022

Jan 2022

Mar 2023

Feb 2025

Feb 2026

Jun 2028

Mar 2029

Mar 2030

Oct 2031

Mar 2033

Sep 2035

May 2037

Nov 2039

Jan 2042

Aug 2045

Mar 2050

Sep 2115

up to Jun 2020

Mar 2024

Oct 2024

Jan 2021

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

2021 - 2023

CDN$/U.S.$  

Mar 2022

Dec 2026

Jan 2031

up to Feb 2021

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

CDN$  

U.S.$  

U.S.$  

G.B.£  

318   

125   

318   

445   

891   

318   

636   

399   

636   

446   

312   

381   

567   

400   

313   

698   

298   

325 

125 

324 

454 

909 

324 

649 

399 

— 

454 

318 

388 

578 

400 

319 

712 

— 

1,146   

1,169 

—   

89   

75   

14   

4   

97   

38   

4   

820   

9,788   

39   

6   

9,833   

(62)   

9,771   

1,186   

11 

100 

91 

55 

3 

99 

45 

4 

516 

8,771 

39 

6 

8,816 

(59) 

8,757 

599 

8,158 

At December 31, 2020, the gross amount of long-term debt denominated in U.S. dollars was U.S. $6,713 million (2019 – U.S. $6,016 million).

$ 

8,585  $ 

 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  127

Annual  maturities  and  principal  repayment  requirements,  excluding  those  pertaining  to  finance  leases,  for  each  of  the  five  years  following 2020  are  (in 
millions): 2021 – $1,178; 2022 – $471; 2023 – $475; 2024 – $83; 2025 – $891.

Fees on long-term debt are amortized to income over the term of the related debt.

A.  These debentures and notes are presented net of unamortized discounts, pay interest semi-annually, and are unsecured but carry a negative pledge.

In 2020, the Company issued U.S $500 million 2.050% 10-year Notes due March 5, 2030 for net proceeds of U.S. $495 million ($662 million) and $300 
million 3.050% 30-year Notes due March 9, 2050 for net proceeds of $296 million.

In 2019, the Company repaid U.S. $350 million 7.250% 10-year Notes at maturity for a total of U.S. $350 million ($471 million). The Company also issued 
$400 million 3.150% 10-year Notes due March 13, 2029 for net proceeds of $397 million.

B.  On December 30, 2019, through its business combination with CMQ Canada, the Company assumed CMQ Canada's obligations under the 8.00% 5-year 
Promissory Notes totalling U.S. $8 million ($11 million) owing to CMQ U.S (see Note 10). In 2020, these notes were settled.

C.  The 5.41% Senior Secured Notes are collateralized by specific locomotive units with a carrying value of $97 million at December 31, 2020. The Company 
pays equal blended semi-annual payments of principal and interest. Final repayment of the remaining principal of U.S. $44 million is due in March 2024.

D.  The 6.91% Secured Equipment Notes are full recourse obligations of the Company collateralized by a first charge on specific locomotive units with a 
carrying value of $54 million at December 31, 2020. The Company pays equal blended semi-annual payments of principal and interest. Final repayment of 
the remaining principal of $11 million is due in October 2024.

E.    The  7.49%  Equipment  Trust  Certificates  are  secured  by  specific  locomotive  units  with  a  carrying  value  of  $91  million  at  December  31,  2020.  The 
Company makes semi-annual payments that vary in amount and are interest-only payments or blended principal and interest payments. Final repayment of 
the remaining principal of U.S. $11 million is due in January 2021.

F.  The carrying value of the assets collateralizing finance lease obligations was $171 million at December 31, 2020.

G.  The Consolidated Debenture Stock, authorized by an Act of Parliament of 1889, constitutes a first charge upon and over the whole of the undertaking, 
railways, works, rolling stock, plant, property and effects of the Company, with certain exceptions.

Credit facility
CP has a revolving credit facility (the “facility”) agreement with 14 highly rated financial institutions for a commitment amount of U.S. $1.3 billion, which 
consists  of  a  U.S.  $1.0  billion  tranche  maturing  September  27,  2024  and  a  U.S.  $300  million  tranche  maturing  September  27,  2021.  The  facility  can 
accommodate draws of cash and/or letters of credit at market competitive pricing. The agreement requires the Company to maintain a financial covenant in 
conjunction  with  the  facility.  As  at  December  31,  2020  and  2019,  the  Company  was  in  compliance  with  all  terms  and  conditions  of  the  credit  facility 
arrangements and satisfied the financial covenant. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company drew and fully repaid U.S. $100 million from 
the U.S. $300 million tranche of its revolving credit facility. As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, the facility was undrawn.

The Company also has a commercial paper program which enables it to issue commercial paper up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of U.S. $1.0 
billion in the form of unsecured promissory notes. This commercial paper program is backed by the revolving credit facility. As at December 31, 2020, the 
Company  had  total  commercial  paper  borrowings  of  U.S.  $644  million  ($820  million),  included  in  "Long-term  debt  maturing  within  one  year"  on  the 
Company's  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  (December  31,  2019  –  $516  million).  The  weighted-average  interest  rate  on  these  borrowings  was  0.27% 
(December 31, 2019 - 2.03%). The Company presents issuances and repayments of commercial paper, all of which have a maturity of less than 90 days, in 
the Company's Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows on a net basis.

CP has bilateral letter of credit facilities with six highly rated financial institutions to support its requirement to post letters of credit in the ordinary course of 
business. Under these agreements, the Company has the option to post collateral in the form of cash or cash equivalents, equal at least to the face value of 
the letter of credit issued. These agreements permit CP to withdraw amounts posted as collateral at any time; therefore, the amounts posted as collateral are 
presented as “Cash and cash equivalents” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. As at December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company did not have 
any collateral posted on its bilateral letter of credit facilities but had letters of credit drawn of $59 million (December 31, 2019 – $80 million) from a total 
available amount of $300 million (December 31, 2019 – $300 million).

 
128  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

17.    Financial instruments
A.  Fair values of financial instruments

The  Company  categorizes  its  financial  assets  and  liabilities  measured  at  fair  value  into  a  three-level  hierarchy  established  by  GAAP  that  prioritizes  those 
inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value based on the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are 
as follows: Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; Level 2 inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 
1, are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly; and Level 3 inputs are not observable in the market.

The Company’s short-term financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and short-
term borrowings including commercial paper. The carrying value of short-term financial instruments approximate their fair values.

The carrying value of the Company’s long-term debt does not approximate its fair value. The estimated fair value has been determined based on market 
information where available, or by discounting future payments of principal and interest at estimated interest rates expected to be available to the Company 
at  period  end.  All  measurements  are  classified  as  Level  2.  The  Company’s  long-term  debt,  including  current  maturities,  with  a  carrying  value  of 
$8,951 million at December 31, 2020 (December 31, 2019 - $8,241 million), had a fair value of $11,597 million (December 31, 2019 - $10,149 million).

B.  Financial risk management
Derivative financial instruments
Derivative  financial  instruments  may  be  used  to  selectively  reduce  volatility  associated  with  fluctuations  in  interest  rates,  FX  rates,  the  price  of  fuel,  and 
stock-based compensation expense. Where derivatives are designated as hedging instruments, the relationship between the hedging instruments and their 
associated hedged items is documented, as well as the risk management objective and strategy for the use of the hedging instruments. This documentation 
includes linking the derivatives that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets or liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance 
Sheets, commitments, or forecasted transactions. At the time a derivative contract is entered into and at least quarterly thereafter, an assessment is made as 
to  whether  the  derivative  item  is  effective  in  offsetting  the  changes  in  fair  value  or  cash  flows  of  the  hedged  items.  The  derivative  qualifies  for  hedge 
accounting treatment if it is effective in substantially mitigating the risk it was designed to address.

It is not the Company’s intent to use financial derivatives or commodity instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Credit risk management
Credit risk refers to the possibility that a customer or counterparty will fail to fulfill its obligations under a contract and as a result create a financial loss for 
the Company.

The railway industry predominantly serves financially established customers, and the Company has experienced limited financial losses with respect to credit 
risk. The credit worthiness of customers is assessed using credit scores supplied by a third party and through direct monitoring of their financial well-being on 
a continual basis. The Company establishes guidelines for customer credit limits and should thresholds in these areas be reached, appropriate precautions 
are taken to improve collectability.

Counterparties  to  financial  instruments  expose  the  Company  to  credit  losses  in  the  event  of  non-performance.  Counterparties  for  derivative  and  cash 
transactions are limited to high credit quality financial institutions, which are monitored on an ongoing basis. Counterparty credit assessments are based on 
the  financial  health  of  the  institutions  and  their  credit  ratings  from  external  agencies.  The  Company  does  not  anticipate  non-performance  that  would 
materially impact the Company’s financial statements. In addition, the Company believes there are no significant concentrations of credit risk.

FX management
The Company conducts business transactions and owns assets in both Canada and the United States. As a result, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in 
the value of financial commitments, assets, liabilities, income, or cash flows due to changes in FX rates. The Company may enter into FX risk management 
transactions primarily to manage fluctuations in the exchange rate between Canadian and U.S. currencies. FX exposure is primarily mitigated through natural 
offsets created by revenues, expenditures, and balance sheet positions incurred in the same currency. Where appropriate, the Company may negotiate with 
customers and suppliers to reduce the net exposure.

Net investment hedge
The  FX  gains  and  losses  on  long-term  debt  are  mainly  unrealized  and  can  only  be  realized  when  U.S.  dollar-denominated  long-term  debt  matures  or  is 
settled. The Company also has long-term FX exposure on its investment in foreign subsidiaries with a U.S. dollar functional currency. The majority of the 
Company’s U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt has been designated as a hedge of the net investment in these foreign subsidiaries. This designation has 
the effect of mitigating volatility on Net income by offsetting long-term FX gains and losses on U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt and gains and losses 
on  its  net  investment.  The  effect  of  the  net  investment  hedge  recognized  in  “Other  comprehensive  loss”  in  2020  was  an  FX  gain  of  $136  million,  the 
majority of which was unrealized (2019 – unrealized gain of $288 million; 2018 – unrealized loss of $479 million) (see Note 8).

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  129

Interest rate management
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk, which is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will vary as a result of changes 
in market interest rates. In order to manage funding needs or capital structure goals, the Company enters into debt or finance lease agreements that are 
subject  to  either  fixed  market  interest  rates  set  at  the  time  of  issue  or  floating  rates  determined  by  ongoing  market  conditions.  Debt  subject  to  variable 
interest rates exposes the Company to variability in interest expense, while debt subject to fixed interest rates exposes the Company to variability in the fair 
value of debt.

To  manage  interest  rate  exposure,  the  Company  accesses  diverse  sources  of  financing  and  manages  borrowings  in  line  with  a  targeted  range  of  capital 
structure, debt ratings, liquidity needs, maturity schedule, and currency and interest rate profiles. In anticipation of future debt issuances, the Company may 
enter into forward rate agreements, that are designated as cash flow hedges, to substantially lock in all or a portion of the effective future interest expense. 
The Company may also enter into swap agreements, designated as fair value hedges, to manage the mix of fixed and floating rate debt.

Forward starting swaps
During the second quarter of 2018, the Company settled a notional amount of U.S. $500 million of forward starting swaps related to the U.S. $500 million 
4.000% 10-year Notes issued in the same period. The fair value of these derivative instruments at the time of settlement was a loss of U.S. $19 million 
($24 million). The Company no longer has any active forward starting swaps.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, a net loss of $9 million related to previously settled forward starting swap hedges has been amortized to “Net 
interest expense” (2019 – loss of $9 million; 2018 – loss of $10 million). The Company expects that during the next 12 months, $9 million of net losses will 
be amortized to “Net interest expense”.

Treasury rate locks
At December 31, 2020, the Company had net unamortized losses related to interest rate locks, which are accounted for as cash flow hedges, settled in 
previous years totalling $17 million (December 31, 2019 – $18 million). This amount is composed of various unamortized gains and losses related to specific 
debts which are reflected in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” and are amortized to “Net interest expense” in the period that interest on the related 
debt is charged. The amortization of these gains and losses resulted in a $1 million increase to “Net interest expense” and “Other comprehensive loss” in 
2020 (2019 – $1 million; 2018 – $1 million). The Company expects that during the next 12 months, a net loss of $1 million related to these previously 
settled derivatives will be reclassified to “Net interest expense”.

18.    Other long-term liabilities

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion (Note 19)

Stock-based compensation liabilities, net of current portion
Provision for environmental remediation, net of current portion(1)
Deferred revenue, net of current portion (Note 3)(2)
Deferred real estate lease and license revenue, net of current portion(3)
Deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions(3)
Other, net of current portion (2)
Total other long-term liabilities

$ 

2020

248  $ 

146   

71   

34   

18   

5   

63   

$ 

585  $ 

2019

285 

111 

70 

4 

20 

6 

66 

562 

(1) As at December 31, 2020, the aggregate provision for environmental remediation, including the current portion was $80 million (2019 – $77 million).
(2) 2019 comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with current presentation.
(3) The deferred real estate lease and license revenue and deferred gains on sale leaseback transactions are being amortized to income on a straight-line basis over the related lease terms.

Environmental remediation accruals
Environmental  remediation  accruals  cover  site-specific  remediation  programs.  The  estimate  of  the  probable  costs  to  be  incurred  in  the  remediation  of 
properties  contaminated  by  past  railway  activities  reflects  the  nature  of  contamination  at  individual  sites  according  to  typical  activities  and  scale  of 
operations  conducted.  CP  has  developed  remediation  strategies  for  each  property  based  on  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  contamination,  as  well  as  the 
location  of  the  property  and  surrounding  areas  that  may  be  adversely  affected  by  the  presence  of  contaminants,  considering  available  technologies, 
treatment  and  disposal  facilities  and  the  acceptability  of  site-specific  plans  based  on  the  local  regulatory  environment.  Site-specific  plans  range  from 
containment and risk management of the contaminants through to the removal and treatment of the contaminants and affected soils and groundwater. The 
details of the estimates reflect the environmental liability at each property. Provisions for environmental remediation costs are recorded in “Other long-term 
liabilities”, except for the current portion which is recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” (see Note 15). Payments are expected to be made 
over 10 years to 2030.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
130  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The accruals for environmental remediation represent CP’s best estimate of its probable future obligation and include both asserted and unasserted claims, 
without reduction for anticipated recoveries from third parties. Although the recorded accruals include CP’s best estimate of all probable costs, CP’s total 
environmental  remediation  costs  cannot  be  predicted  with  certainty.  Accruals  for  environmental  remediation  may  change  from  time  to  time  as  new 
information  about  previously  untested  sites  becomes  known,  environmental  laws  and  regulations  evolve  and  advances  are  made  in  environmental 
remediation  technology.  The  accruals  may  also  vary  as  the  courts  decide  legal  proceedings  against  outside  parties  responsible  for  contamination.  These 
potential  charges,  which  cannot  be  quantified  at  this  time,  may  materially  affect  income  in  the  particular  period  in  which  a  charge  is  recognized.  Costs 
related to existing, but as yet unknown, or future contamination will be accrued in the period in which they become probable and reasonably estimable. 
Changes to costs are reflected as changes to “Other long-term liabilities” or “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities” on the Company's Consolidated 
Balance  Sheets  and  to  “Purchased  services  and  other”  within  operating  expenses  on  the  Company's  Consolidated  Statements  of  Income.  The  amount 
charged to income in 2020 was $10 million (2019 – $6 million; 2018 – $6 million).

19.    Leases
The Company’s leases have remaining terms of less than one year to 14 years, some include options to extend up to an additional 10 years, and some 
include options to terminate within one year.

Residual value guarantees are provided on certain vehicle operating leases. Cumulatively, these guarantees are limited to $1 million and are not included in 
lease liabilities as it is not currently probable that any amounts will be owed.

Components of lease expense for the year ended December 31 are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

2020

2019

Operating lease cost

Short-term lease cost

Variable lease cost

Sublease income

Finance Lease Cost

Amortization of right-of-use assets

Interest on lease liabilities

Total lease costs

$ 

83  $ 

10   

13   

(3)   

9   

11   

$ 

123  $ 

89 

10 

13 

(3) 

9 

11 

129 

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases is as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Classification

2020

2019

Assets

Operating

Finance

Liabilities

Current

Operating

Finance

Long-term

Operating

Finance

Other assets

Properties, net book value

$ 

316  $ 

171   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Long-term debt maturing within one year

Other long-term liabilities

Long-term debt

63   

8   

248   

135   

358 

177 

69 

7 

285 

144 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides the Company's weighted-average remaining lease terms and discount rates: 

Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term

Operating leases

Finance leases

Weighted-Average Discount Rate

Operating leases

Finance leases

Supplemental information related to leases is as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of lease liabilities

Operating cash outflows from operating leases

Operating cash outflows from finance leases

Financing cash outflows from finance leases

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities

Operating leases

Finance leases

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  131

2020

2019

7 years

3 years

 3.32 %

 7.06 %

7 years

4 years

 3.45 %

 7.07 %

2020

2019

74  $ 

10   

8   

34   

4   

82 

10 

6 

38 

4 

$ 

The following table provides the maturities of lease liabilities for the next five years and thereafter as at December 31, 2020:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Finance Leases

Operating Leases

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Thereafter

Total lease payments

Imputed interest

Present value of lease payments

$ 

$ 

11  $ 

107   

9   

8   

8   

12   

155   

(12)   

143  $ 

71 

59 

53 

42 

34 

88 

347 

(36) 

311 

20.    Shareholders’ equity
Authorized and issued share capital
The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, an unlimited number of First Preferred Shares, and an unlimited number of 
Second Preferred Shares. At December 31, 2020, no First or Second Preferred Shares had been issued.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
132  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The following table summarizes information related to Common Share balances as at December 31:

(number of shares in millions)
Share capital, January 1

CP Common Shares repurchased

Shares issued under stock option plan

Share capital, December 31

2020

137.0   

(4.0)   

0.3   

133.3   

2019

140.5   

(3.8)   

0.3   

137.0   

2018

144.9 

(4.6) 

0.2 

140.5 

The  change  in  the  “Share  capital”  balance  includes $10  million  of  stock-based  compensation  transferred  from  “Additional  paid-in  capital”  (2019  –  $7 
million; 2018 – $12 million).

Share repurchases
On December 17, 2019, the Company announced a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"), commencing December 20, 2019, to purchase up to 4.80 million 
Common Shares in the open market for cancellation on or before December 19, 2020. Upon expiry of this NCIB, the Company had purchased 4.27 million 
Common Shares for $1,577 million.

On October 19, 2018, the Company announced a NCIB, commencing October 24, 2018, to purchase up to 5.68 million Common Shares for cancellation on 
or before October 23, 2019. The Company completed this NCIB on October 23, 2019.

On May 10, 2017, the Company announced a NCIB, commencing May 15, 2017, to purchase up to 4.38 million Common Shares in the open market for 
cancellation on or before May 14, 2018. The Company completed this NCIB on May 10, 2018.

All purchases were made in accordance with the respective NCIB at prevailing market prices plus brokerage fees, or such other prices that were permitted by 
the  Toronto  Stock  Exchange  ("TSX"),  with  consideration  allocated  to  "Share  capital"  up  to  the  average  carrying  amount  of  the  shares  and  any  excess 
allocated to "Retained earnings". 

The following table provides activities under the share repurchase programs for each of the years ended December 31:

Number of Common Shares repurchased(1)
Weighted-average price per share(2)
Amount of repurchase (in millions)(2)

(1) Includes shares repurchased but not yet cancelled at year end.
(2) Includes brokerage fees.

2020

2019

2018

3,973,076   

3,794,149   

4,683,162 

$ 

$ 

371.74  $ 

1,477  $ 

300.65  $ 

1,141  $ 

240.68 

1,127 

On January 27, 2021, the Company announced that the TSX has accepted its notice to implement a new NCIB, commencing January 29, 2021, to purchase 
up to approximately 3.33 million Common Shares for cancellation on or before January 28, 2022.	

21.    Change in non-cash working capital balances related to operations 

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

(Use) source of cash:

Accounts receivable, net

Materials and supplies

Other current assets

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Change in non-cash working capital

2020

2019

2018

$ 

$ 

(61)  $ 

(15)   

(5)   

(308)   
(389)  $ 

27  $ 

(8)   

(24)   

(21)   

(26)  $ 

(107) 

(11) 

30 

153 

65 

22.    Pensions and other benefits
The  Company  has  both  defined  benefit  (“DB”)  and  defined  contribution  (“DC”)  pension  plans.  At  December  31,  2020,  the  Canadian  pension  plans 
represent nearly all of total combined pension plan assets and nearly all of total combined pension plan obligations.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  133

The  DB  plans  provide  for  pensions  based  principally  on  years  of  service  and  compensation  rates  near  retirement.  Pensions  for  Canadian  pensioners  are 
partially indexed to inflation. Annual employer contributions to the DB plans, which are actuarially determined, are made on the basis of being not less than 
the minimum amounts required by federal pension supervisory authorities.

The  Company  has  other  benefit  plans  including  post-retirement  health  and  life  insurance  for  pensioners,  and  post-employment  long-term  disability  and 
workers’ compensation benefits, which are based on Company-specific claims. At December 31, 2020, the Canadian other benefits plans represent nearly all 
of total combined other plan obligations.

The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors has approved an investment policy that establishes long-term asset mix targets which take into 
account the Company’s expected risk tolerances. Pension plan assets are managed by a suite of independent investment managers, with the allocation by 
manager  reflecting  these  asset  mix  targets.  Most  of  the  assets  are  actively  managed  with  the  objective  of  outperforming  applicable  benchmarks.  In 
accordance with the investment policy, derivative instruments may be used by investment managers to hedge or adjust existing or anticipated exposures.

To develop the expected long-term rate of return assumption used in the calculation of net periodic benefit cost applicable to the market-related value of 
plan assets, the Company considers the expected composition of the plans’ assets, past experience, and future estimates of long-term investment returns. 
Future estimates of investment returns reflect the long-term return expectation for fixed income, public equity, real estate, infrastructure, private debt, and 
absolute return investments, and the expected added value (relative to applicable benchmark indices) from active management of pension fund assets.

The Company has elected to use a market-related value of assets for the purpose of calculating net periodic benefit cost, developed from a five year average 
of market values for the plans’ public equity and absolute return investments (with each prior year’s market value adjusted to the current date for assumed 
investment income during the intervening period) plus the market value of the plans’ fixed income, real estate, infrastructure, and private debt securities.

The benefit obligation is discounted using a discount rate that is a blended yield to maturity for a hypothetical portfolio of high-quality debt instruments with 
cash flows matching projected benefit payments. The discount rate is determined by management.

Net periodic benefit cost
The elements of net periodic benefit cost for DB pension plans and other benefits recognized in the year include the following components:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Pensions

Other benefits

2020

2019

2018

2020

2019

Current service cost (benefits earned by employees)

$ 

140  $ 

107  $ 

120 

$ 

12  $ 

11  $ 

Other components of net periodic benefit cost (recovery):

Interest cost on benefit obligation

Expected return on fund assets

Recognized net actuarial loss

Amortization of prior service costs

406   

(945)   

177   

(1)   

450   

(947)   

84   

(1)   

438 

(955) 

114 

(2) 

Total other components of net periodic benefit (recovery) cost

(363)   

(414)   

(405) 

17   

—   

4   

—   

21   

20   

—   

12   

1   

33   

Net periodic benefit (recovery) cost

$ 

(223)  $ 

(307)  $ 

(285)  $ 

33  $ 

44  $ 

2018

12 

19 

— 

2 

— 

21 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
134  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

Projected benefit obligation, fund assets, and funded status
Information about the Company’s DB pension plans and other benefits, in aggregate, is as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Change in projected benefit obligation:

Benefit obligation at January 1

Current service cost

Interest cost

Employee contributions

Benefits paid

Foreign currency changes

Plan amendments and other

Actuarial loss

Pensions

2020

Other benefits

2019

2020

2019

$ 

12,610  $ 

11,372  $ 

541  $ 

140   

406   

42   

(653)   

(5)   

3   

107 

450 

41 

(646) 

(10) 

— 

1,256   

1,296 

12   

17   

—   

(34)   

—   

—   

17   

501 

11 

20 

— 

(34) 

— 

— 

43 

541 

Projected benefit obligation at December 31

$ 

13,799  $ 

12,610  $ 

553  $ 

The net actuarial losses for Pensions and Other benefits in 2020 were primarily due to the decrease in discount rate from 3.25% to 2.58%. The net actuarial 
losses for Pensions and Other benefits in 2019 were primarily due to the decrease in discount rate from 4.01% to 3.25%.

(in millions of Canadian dollars)

Change in fund assets:

Fair value of fund assets at January 1

Actual return on fund assets

Employer contributions

Employee contributions

Benefits paid

Foreign currency changes

Fair value of fund assets at December 31

Funded status – plan surplus (deficit)

Pensions

2020

Other benefits

2019

2020

2019

$ 

13,319  $ 

12,349  $ 

5  $ 

1,634   

1,528 

27   

42   

(653)   

(4)   

53 

41 

(646) 

(6) 

$ 

$ 

14,365  $ 

13,319  $ 

566  $ 

709  $ 

—   

34   

—   

(34)   

—   

5  $ 

(548)  $ 

4 

1 

34 

— 

(34) 

— 

5 

(536) 

The table below shows the aggregate pension projected benefit obligation and aggregate fair value of plan assets for pension plans with fair value of plan 
assets in excess of projected benefit obligations (i.e. surplus), and for pension plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of fair value of plan assets 
(i.e. deficit):

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Projected benefit obligation at December 31

Fair value of fund assets at December 31

Funded Status

2020

Pension
plans in
surplus

(13,220)  $ 

14,114   

894  $ 

$ 

$ 

Pension
plans in
deficit

(579)  $ 

251 

(328)  $ 

2019

Pension
plans in
surplus

(12,076)  $ 

13,079   

1,003  $ 

Pension
plans in
deficit

(534) 

240 

(294) 

The DB pension plans’ accumulated benefit obligation as at December 31, 2020 was $13,528 million (2019 – $12,201 million). The accumulated benefit 
obligation  is  calculated  on  a  basis  similar  to  the  projected  benefit  obligation,  except  no  future  salary  increases  are  assumed  in  the  projection  of  future 
benefits.  For  pension  plans  with  accumulated  benefit  obligations  in  excess  of  fair  value  of  plan  assets  (i.e.  deficit),  the  aggregate  pension  accumulated 
benefit obligation as at December 31, 2020 was $443 million (2019 – $419 million) and the aggregate fair value of plan assets as at December 31, 2020 
was $187 million (2019 –$186 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  135

All Other benefits plans were in a deficit position at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Pension asset and liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets
Amounts recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Pension asset

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Pension and other benefit liabilities

Total amount recognized

Pensions

2020

894  $ 

(11)   

(317)   

566  $ 

2019

1,003  $ 

(11) 

(283) 

709  $ 

Other benefits

2020

—  $ 

(33)   

(515)   

(548)  $ 

2019

— 

(34) 

(502) 

(536) 

$ 

$ 

The measurement date used to determine the plan assets and the accrued benefit obligation is December 31. The most recent actuarial valuation for pension 
funding purposes for the Company’s main Canadian pension plan was performed as at January 1, 2020. During 2021, the Company expects to file with the 
pension regulator a new valuation performed as at January 1, 2021.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Net actuarial loss:

Other than deferred investment gains

Deferred investment gains

Prior service cost

Deferred income tax

Total (Note 8)

Actuarial assumptions
Weighted-average actuarial assumptions used were approximately:

(percentages)
Benefit obligation at December 31:

Discount rate

Projected future salary increases

Health care cost trend rate

Benefit cost for year ended December 31:

Discount rate
Expected rate of return on fund assets (3)
Projected future salary increases

Health care cost trend rate

Pensions

2020

Other benefits

2019

2020

2019

$ 

3,960  $ 

3,434  $ 

(95)   

5   

(1,070)   

2,800  $ 

$ 

41 

1 

(964) 

2,512  $ 

104  $ 

—   

1   

(27)   

78  $ 

91 

— 

1 

(24) 

68 

2020

 2.58 

 2.75 

2019

 3.25 

 2.75 

2018

 4.01 

 2.75 

 5.00 

(1)

 5.50 

(1)

 6.00 

(1)

 3.25 

 7.25 

 2.75 

 4.01 

 7.50 

 2.75 

 3.80 

 7.75 

 2.75 

 5.50 

(1)

 6.00 

(1)

 7.00 

(2)

(1) The health care cost trend rate was assumed to be 6.00% in 2019 and 5.50% in 2020 and is assumed to be 5.00% per year in 2021 and thereafter.
(2) The health care cost trend rate was previously assumed to be 7.00% in 2018, and then decreasing by 0.50% per year to an ultimate rate of 5.00% per year in 2022 and thereafter. 
(3) The expected rate of return on fund assets that will be used to compute the 2021 net periodic benefit credit is 6.90%.

Plan assets
Plan assets are recorded at fair value. The major asset categories are public equity securities, fixed income securities, real estate, infrastructure, absolute 
return investments, and private debt. The fair values of the public equity and fixed income securities are primarily based on quoted market prices. Real estate 
and infrastructure values are based on the value of each fund’s assets as calculated by the fund manager, generally using third party appraisals or discounted 
cash flow analysis and taking into account current market conditions and recent sales transactions where practical and appropriate. Private debt values are 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
136  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

based on the value of each fund’s assets as calculated by the fund manager taking into account current market conditions and reviewed annually by external 
parties. Absolute return investments are a portfolio of units of externally managed hedge funds and are valued by the fund administrators. 

The Company’s pension plan asset allocation, the weighted-average asset allocation targets, and the weighted average policy range for each major asset 
class at year end were as follows:

Asset allocation (percentage)
Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed income

Public equity

Real estate and infrastructure

Private debt

Absolute return

Total

Asset allocation 
target

Policy range

 1.2 

 24.1 

 45.1 

 9.8 

 9.8 

 10.0 

 100.0 

0 – 10

20 – 40

35 – 55

4 – 13

4 – 13

4 – 13

Percentage of plan assets
at December 31

2020

 2.0 

 28.1 

 49.3 

 6.3 

 3.3 

 11.0 

 100.0 

2019

 0.9 

 24.6 

 54.5 

 6.8 

 2.4 

 10.8 

 100.0 

 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  137

Summary of the assets of the Company’s DB pension plans 
The following is a summary of the assets of the Company’s DB pension plans at December 31, 2020 and 2019. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, there 
were no plan assets classified as Level 3 valued investments.

Assets Measured at Fair Value

Quoted prices in
active markets
for identical assets (Level 1)

Significant other observable 
inputs (Level 2)

Investments 
measured at NAV(1)

Total Plan 
Assets

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
December 31, 2020

—  $ 

—  $ 

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 

Fixed income

Government bonds(2)
Corporate bonds(2)
Mortgages(3)
Public equities

Canada

U.S. and international

Real estate(4)
Infrastructure(5)
Private debt(6)
Derivative instruments(7)
Absolute return(8)

Funds of hedge funds

Multi-strategy funds

December 31, 2019

Cash and cash equivalents

Fixed income

Government bonds(2)
Corporate bonds(2)
Mortgages(3)
Public equities

Canada

U.S. and international

Real estate(4)
Infrastructure(5)
Private debt(6)
Derivative instruments(7)
Absolute return(8)

Funds of hedge funds

Multi-strategy funds

$ 

$ 

219  $ 

284   

691   

220   

1,183   

5,871   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

112  $ 

233   

273   

159   

1,351   

5,883   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

1,699   

1,144   

5   

—   

28   

—   

—   

—   

71   

—   

—   

1,857   

819   

5   

—   

22   

—   

—   

—   

(59)   

—   

—   

219 

1,983 

1,835 

225 

1,183 

5,899 

704 

199 

465 

71 

1,560 

22 

14,365 

112 

2,090 

1,092 

164 

1,351 

5,905 

724 

187 

313 

(59) 

1,418 

22 

13,319 

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

704   

199   

465   

—   

1,560   

22   

2,950  $ 

—   

—   

—   

—   

—   

724   

187   

313   

—   

1,418   

22   

2,664  $ 

8,468  $ 

2,947  $ 

—  $ 

—  $ 

$ 

8,011  $ 

2,644  $ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
138  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

(1) Investments measured at net asset value ("NAV"):

Amounts are comprised of certain investments measured using NAV (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. These investments have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.

(2) Government & Corporate Bonds:

Fair values for bonds are based on market prices supplied by independent sources as of the last trading day.

(3) Mortgages:

The fair values of mortgages are based on current market yields of financial instruments of similar maturity, coupon and risk factors.

(4) Real estate:

Real estate fund values are based on the NAV of the funds that invest directly in real estate investments. The values of the investments have been estimated using the capital accounts 
representing the plan’s ownership interest in the funds. Of the total, $580 million is subject to redemption frequencies ranging from monthly to annually and a redemption notice period 
of 90 days (2019 – $606 million). The remaining $124 million is not subject to redemption and is normally returned through distributions as a result of the liquidation of the underlying 
real  estate  investments  (2019  –  $118  million).  As  at  December  31,  2020,  there  are  $32  million  of  unfunded  commitments  for  real  estate  investments  (December  31,  2019  – 
$35 million).

(5) Infrastructure:

Infrastructure fund values are based on the NAV of the funds that invest directly in infrastructure investments. The values of the investments have been estimated using the capital 
accounts representing the plans' ownership interest in the funds. Of the total, $112 million is subject to redemption frequencies ranging from monthly to annually and a redemption 
notice period of 90 days (2019 – $119 million). The remaining $87 million is not subject to redemption and is normally returned through distributions as a result of the liquidation of the 
underlying infrastructure investments (2019 – $68 million). As at December 31, 2020, there are $491 million of unfunded commitments for infrastructure investments (December 31, 
2019 – $286 million).

(6) Private debt:

Private  debt  fund  values  are  based  on  the  NAV  of  the  funds  that  invest  directly  in  private  debt  investments.  The  values  of  the  investments  have  been  estimated  using  the  capital 
accounts representing the plans' ownership interest in the funds. Of the total, $154 million is subject to redemption frequencies ranging from monthly to annually and a redemption 
notice period of 90 days (2019 – $154 million). The remaining $311 million is not subject to redemption and is normally returned through distributions as a result of the repayment of 
the  underlying  loans  (2019  -  $159  million).  As  at  December  31,  2020,  there  are  $533  million  of  unfunded  commitments  for  private  debt  investments  (December  31,  2019  – 
$392 million).

(7) Derivatives:

The investment managers may utilize the following derivative instruments: equity futures to replicate equity index returns (Level 2); currency forwards to partially hedge foreign currency 
exposures (Level 2); bond forwards to reduce asset/liability interest rate risk exposures (Level 2); interest rate swaps to manage duration and interest rate risk (Level 2); credit default 
swaps to manage credit risk (Level 2); and options to manage interest rate risk and volatility (Level 2). The Company may utilize derivatives directly, but only for the purpose of hedging 
foreign currency exposures. As at December 31, 2020, there are currency forwards with a notional value of $1,041 million (December 31, 2019 – $334 million) and a fair value of $73 
million  (December 31, 2019 – $13 million). The fixed income investment manager utilizes a portfolio of bond forwards for the purpose of reducing asset/liability interest rate exposure. 
As at December 31, 2020, there are bond forwards with a notional value of $3,540 million (December 31, 2019 – $3,269 million) and a negative fair value of $2 million (December 31, 
2019 – $(72) million).

(8) Absolute return:

The value of absolute return fund investments is based on the NAV reported by the fund administrators. The funds have different redemption policies with redemption notice periods 
varying from 60 to 95 days and frequencies ranging from monthly to triennially.

Additional plan assets information
The Company's primary investment objective for pension plan assets is to achieve a long–term return, net of all fees and expenses, that is sufficient for the 
plan's assets to satisfy the current and future obligations to plan beneficiaries, while minimizing the financial impact on the Company. In identifying the asset 
allocation ranges, consideration was given to the long-term nature of the underlying plan liabilities, the solvency and going-concern financial position of the 
plan, long-term return expectations, and the risks associated with key asset classes as well as the relationships of returns on key asset classes with each 
other,  inflation,  and  interest  rates.  When  advantageous  and  with  due  consideration,  derivative  instruments  may  be  utilized  by  investment  managers, 
provided  the  total  value  of  the  underlying  assets  represented  by  financial  derivatives  (excluding  currency  forwards,  liability  hedging  derivatives  in  fixed 
income portfolios, and derivatives held by absolute return funds) is limited to 30% of the market value of the fund.

The funded status of the plans is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, which affects the relative values of the plans' liabilities and assets. In order to 
mitigate  interest  rate  risk,  the  Company's  main  Canadian  defined  benefit  pension  plan  utilizes  a  liability  driven  investment  strategy  in  its  fixed  income 
portfolio, which uses a combination of long duration bonds and derivatives to hedge interest rate risk, managed by the investment manager. At December 
31, 2020, the plan's solvency funded position was 47% hedged against interest rate risk (2019 – 45%).

When investing in foreign securities, the plans are exposed to foreign currency risk; the effect of which is included in the valuation of the foreign securities. 
At December 31, 2020, the plans were 33% exposed to the U.S. dollar net of currency forwards (40% excluding the currency forwards), 6% exposed to the 
Euro, and 14% exposed to various other currencies. At December 31, 2019, the plans were 39% exposed to the U.S. dollar net of currency forwards (41% 
excluding the currency forwards), 6% exposed to the Euro, and 14% exposed to various other currencies.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  139

At December 31, 2020, fund assets included 109,008 of the Common Shares of the Company (2019 – 119,758) at a market value of $48 million (2019 – 
$40 million).

Estimated future benefit payments
The estimated future DB pension and other benefit payments to be paid by the plans for each of the next five years and the subsequent five-year period are 
as follows:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026-2030

Pensions

Other benefits

$ 

632  $ 

629   

631   

633   

635   
3,203   

33 

31 

31 

30 

30 
142 

The benefit payments from the Canadian registered and U.S. qualified DB pension plans are payable from their respective pension funds. Benefit payments 
from the supplemental pension plan and from the other benefits plans are payable directly from the Company.

Defined contribution plan
Canadian  non-unionized  employees  hired  prior  to  July  1,  2010  had  the  option  to  participate  in  the  Canadian  DC  plan.  All  Canadian  non-unionized 
employees hired after such date must participate in this plan. Employee contributions are based on a percentage of salary. The Company matches employee 
contributions to a maximum percentage each year.

Effective July 1, 2010, a new U.S. DC plan was established. All U.S. non-unionized employees hired after such date must participate in this plan. Employees 
do not contribute to the plan. The Company annually contributes a percentage of salary.

The  DC  plans  provide  a  pension  based  on  total  employee,  where  appropriate,  and  employer  contributions  plus  investment  income  earned  on  those 
contributions.

In  2020,  the  net  cost  of  the  DC  plans,  which  generally  equals  the  employer’s  required  contribution,  was  $12  million  (2019  –  $11  million;  2018  –  $10 
million).

Contributions to multi-employer plans
Some of the Company’s unionized employees in the U.S. are members of a U.S. national multi-employer benefit plan. Contributions made by the Company to 
this plan in 2020 in respect of post-retirement medical benefits were $3 million (2019 – $3 million; 2018 – $3 million).

23.    Stock-based compensation
At December 31, 2020, the Company had several stock-based compensation plans including stock option plans, various cash-settled liability plans, and an 
employee share purchase plan. These plans resulted in an expense of $170 million in 2020 (2019 – $133 million; 2018 – $75 million).

 
 
 
 
 
 
140  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

A. Stock option plan
The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option plan as at December 31, 2020:

Outstanding, January 1, 2020

Granted

Exercised

Vested

Forfeited

Expired

Outstanding, December 31, 2020
Vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2020(1)
Exercisable, December 31, 2020

Options outstanding

Non-vested options

Number of
options

Weighted-average
exercise price

Number of
options

Weighted-average
grant date
fair value

1,416,346  $ 

217,240  $ 

(232,034)  $ 

N/A

(13,839)  $ 

(347)  $ 

1,387,366  $ 

1,366,649  $ 

610,289  $ 

199.12 

344.04 

162.87 

N/A  

271.75 

168.84 

225.20 

223.98 

177.65 

761,784  $ 

217,240  $ 

N/A

(188,108)  $ 

(13,839)  $ 

N/A

777,077  $ 

N/A

N/A

53.54 

69.00 

N/A

50.91 

58.29 

N/A

58.40 

N/A

N/A

(1) As at December 31, 2020, the weighted-average remaining term of vested or expected to vest options was 4.5 years with an aggregate intrinsic value of $297 million.

The following table provides the number of stock options outstanding and exercisable as at December 31, 2020 by range of exercise price and their related 
intrinsic aggregate value, and for options outstanding, the weighted-average years to expiration. The table also provides the aggregate intrinsic value for in-
the-money stock options, which represents the amount that would have been received by option holders had they exercised their options on December 31, 
2020 at the Company’s closing stock price of $441.53.

Range of exercise prices
$65.06 - $188.78

$188.79 - $214.58

$214.59 - $261.88

$261.89 - $411.37
Total(1)

Options outstanding

Options exercisable

Weighted-
average
years to
expiration

Weighted-
average
exercise
price

Aggregate
intrinsic
value
(millions)

Weighted-
average
exercise
price

Aggregate
intrinsic
value
(millions)

Number of
options

3.4 $ 

3.1 $ 

4.4 $ 

5.8 $ 

4.2 $ 

141.26  $ 

196.82  $ 

244.17  $ 

320.21  $ 

225.20  $ 

103 

80 

78 

39 

300 

342,773  $ 

141.26  $ 

109,375  $ 

203.83  $ 

134,845  $ 

232.54  $ 

23,296  $ 

272.56  $ 

610,289  $ 

177.65  $ 

103 

26 

28 

4 

161 

Number of
options

342,773 

327,811 

394,953 

321,829 

1,387,366 

(1) As at December 31, 2020, the total number of in-the-money stock options outstanding was 1,387,366 with a weighted-average exercise price of $225.20. The weighted-average years 

to expiration of exercisable stock options is 3.6 years.

Pursuant to the employee plan, options may be exercised upon vesting, which is between 12 months and 48 months after the grant date, and will expire 
after seven years. Certain stock options granted in 2019 and 2018 vest upon the achievement of specific performance criteria. Under the fair value method, 
the fair value of the stock options at grant date was approximately $15 million for options issued in 2020 (2019 – $14 million; 2018 – $16 million). The 
weighted-average fair value assumptions were approximately:

Expected option life (years)(1)
Risk-free interest rate(2)
Expected stock price volatility(3)
Expected annual dividends per share(4) 
Expected forfeiture rate(5)
Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the year

2020

4.75

 1.28% 

 23.14% 

2019

5.00

 2.22% 

 25.04% 

2018

5.00

 2.22% 

 24.81% 

$ 

$ 

3.3200 

$ 

2.6191 

$ 

2.3854 

 4.41% 

 6.05% 

69.00 

$ 

63.69 

$ 

 4.70% 

55.63 

(1)  Represents  the  period  of  time  that  awards  are  expected  to  be  outstanding.  Historical  data  on  exercise  behaviour  or,  when  available,  specific  expectations  regarding  future  exercise 

behaviour were used to estimate the expected life of the option.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  141

(2) Based on the implied yield available on zero-coupon government issues with an equivalent term commensurate with the expected term of the option.
(3) Based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over a period commensurate with the expected term of the option.
(4) Determined by the current annual dividend at the time of grant. The Company does not employ different dividend yields throughout the contractual term of the option. On July 21, 2020, 

the Company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.9500 per share, representing $3.8000 on an annual basis.

(5) The Company estimates forfeitures based on past experience. The rate is monitored on a periodic basis.

In 2020, the expense for stock options (regular and performance) was $16 million (2019 – $14 million; 2018 – $10 million). At December 31, 2020, there 
was  $12  million  of  total  unrecognized  compensation  related  to  stock  options  which  is  expected  to  be  recognized  over  a  weighted-average  period  of 
approximately 1.1 years. 

The total fair value of shares vested for the stock option plan during 2020 was $10 million (2019 – $8 million; 2018 – $11 million).

The following table provides information related to all options exercised in the stock option plan during the years ended December 31:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Total intrinsic value

Cash received by the Company upon exercise of options

$ 

2020

52  $ 

52   

2019

63  $ 

26   

2018

17 

24 

B. Other share-based plans
Performance share unit plans
During 2020, the Company issued 97,998 PSUs with a grant date fair value of approximately $34 million and 10,029 PDSUs with a grant date fair value, 
including value of expected future matching units, of approximately $4 million. PSUs and PDSUs attract dividend equivalents in the form of additional units, 
based on dividends paid on the Company's Common Shares, and vest approximately three years after the grant date contingent upon CP’s performance 
("performance  factor").  The  fair  value  of  these  PSUs  and  PDSUs  is  measured  periodically  until  settlement  using  closing  share  price  on  the  date  of 
measurement.  The  fair  value  of  units  that  are  probable  of  vesting  based  on  forecasted  performance  factors  over  the  three-year  performance  period  is 
recognized as expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Vested PSUs are settled in cash. Vested PDSUs are settled in cash pursuant to the DSU 
plan and are eligible for a 25% match if the holder has not exceeded their share ownership requirements, and are paid out only when the holder ceases their 
employment with CP.

The performance period for PSUs and PDSUs issued in 2020 is January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, and the performance factors are Return on Invested 
Capital ("ROIC"), Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") compared to the S&P/TSX 60 Index, and TSR compared to Class I railways.

The performance period for 133,681 PSUs issued in 2019 is January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, and the performance factors for these PSUs are ROIC, 
TSR compared to the S&P/TSX 60 Index, and TSR compared to Class I railways. The performance factors for the remaining 579 PSUs are annual revenue for 
the fiscal year 2020, diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year 2020, and share price appreciation.

The performance period for 125,280 PSUs issued in 2018 is January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020, and the performance factors for these PSUs were ROIC, 
TSR compared to the S&P/TSX Capped Industrial Index, and TSR compared to the S&P 1500 Road and Rail Index. The resulting estimated payout on these 
awards  was  200%  on  113,769  total  outstanding  awards  representing  a  total  fair  value  of  $98  million  at  December  31,  2020,  calculated  using  the 
Company's average share price of the last 30 trading days preceding December 31, 2020. The performance factors for the remaining 36,975 PSUs were 
annual revenue for the fiscal year 2020, diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year 2020, and share price appreciation.

The performance period for PSUs issued in 2017 was January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, and the performance factors for these PSUs were ROIC, TSR 
compared  to  the  S&P/TSX  Capped  Industrial  Index,  and  TSR  compared  to  the  S&P  1500  Road  and  Rail  Index.  The  resulting  payout  was 193%  of  the 
outstanding  units  multiplied  by  the  Company's  average  share  price  calculated  using  the  last 30  trading  days  preceding  December  31,  2019.  In  the  first 
quarter of 2020, payouts occurred on the total outstanding awards, including dividends reinvested, totalling $76 million on 121,225 outstanding awards.

 
 
142  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

The following table summarizes information related to the Company’s PSUs and PDSUs as at December 31:

Outstanding, January 1

Granted

Units, in lieu of dividends

Settled

Forfeited

Outstanding, December 31

2020

403,136   

108,027   

3,843   

(121,225)   

(11,912)   

381,869   

2019

395,048 

134,260 

4,032 

(117,228) 

(12,976) 

403,136 

In 2020, the expense for PSUs and PDSUs was $121 million (2019 – $89 million; 2018 – $54 million). At December 31, 2020, there was $51 million of total 
unrecognized compensation related to these awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.4 years.

Deferred share unit plan
The  Company  established  the  DSU  plan  as  a  means  to  compensate  and  assist  in  attaining  share  ownership  targets  set  for  certain  key  employees  and 
Directors. A DSU entitles the holder to receive, upon redemption, a cash payment equivalent to the Company's average share price using the 10 trading days 
prior to redemption. DSUs vest over various periods of up to 36 months and are only redeemable for a specified period after employment is terminated.

Senior  managers  may  elect  to  receive  DSUs  in  lieu  of  annual  bonus  cash  payments  in  the  bonus  deferral  program.  In  addition,  senior  managers  will  be 
granted a 25% company match of DSUs when deferring cash to DSUs to meet ownership targets. The election to receive eligible payments in DSUs is no 
longer available to a participant when the value of the participant’s DSUs is sufficient to meet the Company’s stock ownership guidelines. Senior managers 
have five years to meet their ownership targets.

The expense for DSUs is recognized over the vesting period for both the initial subscription price and the change in value between reporting periods.

The following table summarizes information related to the DSUs as at December 31:

Outstanding, January 1

Granted

Units, in lieu of dividends

Settled

Forfeited

Outstanding, December 31

2020

161,219   

19,041   

1,511   

(26,788)   

(172)   

154,811   

2019

152,760 

19,912 

1,608 

(12,110) 

(951) 

161,219 

During 2020, the Company granted 19,041 DSUs with a grant date fair value of approximately $7 million. In 2020, the expense for DSUs was $21 million 
(2019 – $20 million expense; 2018 – $4 million expense). At December 31, 2020, there was $1 million of total unrecognized compensation related to DSUs 
which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.3 years.

Summary of share-based liabilities paid
The following table summarizes the total share-based liabilities paid for each of the years ended December 31:

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Plan

PSUs

DSUs

Other

Total

2020

2019

2018

$ 

$ 

76  $ 

9   

1   

86  $ 

54  $ 

4   

—   

58  $ 

30 

6 

1 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  143

C. Employee share purchase plan
The  Company  has  an  employee  share  purchase  plan  whereby  both  employee  and  the  Company  contributions  are  used  to  purchase  shares  on  the  open 
market for employees. The Company’s contributions are expensed over the one year vesting period. Under the plan, the Company matches $1 for every $3 
contributed by employees up to a maximum employee contribution of 6% of annual salary.

The total number of shares purchased in 2020 on behalf of participants, including the Company's contributions, was 115,344 (2019 – 137,942; 2018 – 
118,865). In 2020, the Company’s contributions totalled $9 million (2019 – $8 million; 2018 – $6 million) and the related expense was $7 million (2019 – 
$6 million; 2018 – $5 million).

24.    Variable interest entities
The  Company  leases  equipment  from  certain  trusts,  which  have  been  determined  to  be  variable  interest  entities  financed  by  a  combination  of  debt  and 
equity provided by unrelated third parties. The lease agreements, which are classified as operating leases, have fixed price purchase options which create the 
Company’s variable interests and result in the trusts being considered variable interest entities.

Maintaining  and  operating  the  leased  assets  according  to  specific  contractual  obligations  outlined  in  the  terms  of  the  lease  agreements  and  industry 
standards is the Company’s responsibility. The rigour of the contractual terms of the lease agreements and industry standards are such that the Company has 
limited discretion over the maintenance activities associated with these assets. As such, the Company concluded these terms do not provide the Company 
with the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entities in a way that has a significant impact on the entities’ economic performance.

The financial exposure to the Company as a result of its involvement with the variable interest entities is equal to the fixed lease payments due to the trusts. 
In 2020, lease payments after tax were $14 million. Future minimum lease payments, before tax, of $126 million will be payable over the next 10 years. The 
Company does not guarantee the residual value of the assets to the lessor; however, it must deliver to the lessor the assets in good operating condition, 
subject to normal wear and tear, at the end of the lease term.

As the Company’s actions and decisions do not significantly affect the variable interest entities’ performance, and the Company’s fixed price purchase option 
is not considered to be potentially significant to the variable interest entities, the Company is not considered to be the primary beneficiary, and does not 
consolidate these variable interest entities.

25.    Commitments and contingencies
In the normal course of its operations, the Company becomes involved in various legal actions, including claims relating to injuries and damage to property. 
The Company maintains provisions it considers to be adequate for such actions. While the final outcome with respect to actions outstanding or pending at 
December 31, 2020 cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that their resolution will not have a material adverse effect on the 
Company’s business, financial position, or results of operations. However, an unexpected adverse resolution of one or more of these legal actions could have 
a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, results of operations, or liquidity in a particular quarter or fiscal year.

Commitments
At December 31, 2020, the Company had committed to total future capital expenditures amounting to $547 million and operating expenditures relating to 
supplier purchase obligations, such as bulk fuel purchase agreements, locomotive maintenance and overhaul agreements, as well as agreements to purchase 
other  goods  and  services  amounting  to  approximately  $1.7  billion  for  the  years  2021–2032,  of  which  CP  estimates  approximately  $1.6  billion  will  be 
incurred in the next five years.

Commitments related to leases, including minimum annual payments for the next five years and thereafter, are included in Note 19.

Legal proceedings related to Lac-Mégantic rail accident
On  July  6,  2013,  a  train  carrying  petroleum  crude  oil  operated  by  Montréal  Maine  and  Atlantic  Railway  (“MMAR”)  or  a  subsidiary,  Montréal  Maine  & 
Atlantic  Canada  Co.  (“MMAC”  and  collectively  the  “MMA  Group”),  derailed  in  Lac-Mégantic,  Québec.  The  derailment  occurred  on  a  section  of  railway 
owned and operated by the MMA Group and while the MMA Group exclusively controlled the train.

Following the derailment, MMAC sought court protection in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and MMAR filed for bankruptcy in the 
U.S. Plans of arrangement were approved in both Canada and the U.S. (the “Plans”), providing for the distribution of approximately $440 million amongst 
those claiming derailment damages. 

A number of legal proceedings, set out below, were commenced in Canada and the U.S. against CP and others:

(1) Québec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks ordered various parties, including CP, to remediate the derailment site 
(the "Cleanup Order") and served CP with a Notice of Claim for $95 million for those costs. CP appealed the Cleanup Order and contested the Notice 

 
144  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

of Claim with the Administrative Tribunal of Québec. These proceedings are stayed pending determination of the Attorney General of Québec (“AGQ”) 
action (paragraph 2 below).

(2)

The  AGQ  sued  CP  in  the  Québec  Superior  Court  claiming $409  million  in  damages,  which  was  amended  and  reduced  to $315  million  (the  “AGQ 
Action”). The AGQ Action alleges that: (i) CP was responsible for the petroleum crude oil from its point of origin until its delivery to Irving Oil Ltd.; and 
(ii) CP is vicariously liable for the acts and omissions of the MMA Group. 

(3) A class action in the Québec Superior Court on behalf of persons and entities residing in, owning or leasing property in, operating a business in, or 
physically  present  in  Lac-Mégantic  at  the  time  of  the  derailment  was  certified  against  CP  on May  8,  2015  (the  "Class  Action").  Other  defendants 
including  MMAC  and  Mr.  Thomas  Harding  ("Harding")  were  added  to  the  Class  Action  on January  25,  2017.  The  Class  Action  seeks  unquantified 
damages, including for wrongful death, personal injury, property damage, and economic loss. 

(4)

Eight subrogated insurers sued CP in the Québec Superior Court claiming approximately $16 million in damages, which was amended and reduced to 
approximately $15 million (the “Promutuel Action”), and two additional subrogated insurers sued CP claiming approximately $3 million in damages 
(the  “Royal  Action”).  Both  actions  contain  similar  allegations  as  the  AGQ  Action.  The  actions  do  not  identify  the  subrogated  parties.  As  such,  the 
extent of any overlap between the damages claimed in these actions and under the Plans is unclear. The Royal Action is stayed pending determination 
of the consolidated proceedings described below.

On December 11, 2017, the AGQ Action, the Class Action and the Promutuel Action were consolidated. These consolidated claims are currently scheduled 
for a joint liability trial commencing on or around September 13, 2021, followed by a damages trial, if necessary.

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

Forty-eight plaintiffs (all individual claims joined in one action) sued CP, MMAC, and Harding in the Québec Superior Court claiming approximately $5 
million in damages for economic loss and pain and suffering, and asserting similar allegations as in the Class Action and the AGQ Action. The majority 
of the plaintiffs opted-out of the Class Action and all but two are also plaintiffs in litigation against CP, described in paragraph 7 below. This action is 
stayed pending determination of the consolidated claims described above.

The MMAR U.S. bankruptcy estate representative commenced an action against CP in November 2014 in the Maine Bankruptcy Court claiming that CP 
failed to abide by certain regulations and seeking approximately U.S. $30 million in damages for MMAR’s loss in business value according to a recent 
report.  This  action  asserts  that  CP  knew  or  ought  to  have  known  that  the  shipper  misclassified  the  petroleum  crude  oil  and  therefore  should  have 
refused to transport it. 

The class and mass tort action commenced against CP in June 2015 in Texas (on behalf of Lac-Mégantic residents and wrongful death representatives) 
and the wrongful death and personal injury actions commenced against CP in June 2015 in Illinois and Maine, were all transferred and consolidated in 
Federal  District  Court  in  Maine  (the  “Maine  Actions”).  The  Maine  Actions  allege  that  CP  negligently  misclassified  and  improperly  packaged  the 
petroleum crude oil. On CP’s motion, the Maine Actions were dismissed. The plaintiffs are appealing the dismissal decision, which is pending.

The  trustee  for  the  wrongful  death  trust  commenced  Carmack  Amendment  claims  against  CP  in  North  Dakota  Federal  Court,  seeking  to  recover 
approximately U.S. $6 million for damaged rail cars and lost crude and reimbursement for the settlement paid by the consignor and the consignee 
under  the  Plans  (alleged  to  be  U.S.  $110  million  and  U.S.  $60  million,  respectively).  The  Court  issued  an  Order  on  August  6,  2020  granting  and 
denying in parts the parties' summary judgment motions which has been reviewed and confirmed following motions by the parties for clarification and 
reconsideration. This action is scheduled for trial on September 21, 2021.

At this stage of the proceedings, any potential responsibility and the quantum of potential losses cannot be determined. Nevertheless, CP denies liability and 
is vigorously defending these proceedings.

26.    Guarantees
In the normal course of operating the railway, the Company enters into contractual arrangements that involve providing certain guarantees, which extend 
over the term of the contracts. These guarantees include, but are not limited to:
•

guarantees to pay other parties in the event of the occurrence of specified events, including damage to equipment, in relation to assets used in the  
operation of the railway through operating leases, rental agreements, easements, trackage, and interline agreements; and
indemnifications of certain tax-related payments incurred by lessors and lenders.

•

The  maximum  amount  that  could  be  payable  under  these  guarantees,  excluding  residual  value  guarantees,  cannot  be  reasonably  estimated  due  to  the 
nature of certain of these guarantees. All or a portion of amounts paid under guarantees to other parties in the event of the occurrence of specified events 
could be recoverable from other parties or through insurance. The Company has accrued for all guarantees that it expects to pay. At December 31, 2020, 
these accruals amounted to $18 million (2019 – $10 million), and are recorded in “Accounts payable and accrued liabilities".

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  145

Indemnifications
Pursuant to a trust and custodial services agreement with the trustee of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan, the Company has undertaken 
to indemnify and save harmless the trustee, to the extent not paid by the fund, from any and all taxes, claims, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses 
arising out of the performance of the trustee’s obligations under the agreement, except as a result of misconduct by the trustee. The indemnity includes 
liabilities,  costs,  or  expenses  relating  to  any  legal  reporting  or  notification  obligations  of  the  trustee  with  respect  to  the  defined  benefit  and  defined 
contribution options of the pension plans, or otherwise with respect to the assets of the pension plans that are not part of the fund. The indemnity survives 
the  termination  or  expiry  of  the  agreement  with  respect  to  claims  and  liabilities  arising  prior  to  the  termination  or  expiry. At  December  31,  2020,  the 
Company had not recorded a liability associated with this indemnification as it does not expect to make any payments pertaining to it.

27.    Segmented and geographic information
Operating segment
The  Company  operates  in  only  one  operating  segment:  rail  transportation.  Operating  results  by  geographic  areas,  railway  corridors,  or  other  lower-level 
components or units of operation are not reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision-maker to make decisions about the allocation of resources to, 
or the assessment of performance of, such geographic areas, corridors, components, or units of operation.

In the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, no one customer comprised more than 10% of total revenues and accounts receivable.

Geographic information
All of the company's revenue and long-lived assets excluding financial instruments are held within Canada and the United States.

(in millions of Canadian dollars)
2020

Revenues

Long-term assets excluding financial instruments and pension assets

2019

Revenues

Long-term assets excluding financial instruments and pension assets

2018

Revenues

Long-term assets excluding financial instruments and pension assets

28.    Selected quarterly data (unaudited)

Canada

United States

Total

$ 

5,829  $ 

14,258   

1,881  $ 

7,165   

5,675   

13,131   

5,232   

12,133   

2,117   

7,020   

2,084   

6,759   

2019

7,710 

21,423 

7,792 

20,151 

7,316 

18,892 

2020

For the quarter ended

(in millions of Canadian dollars, except per 
share data)
Total revenues

Operating income

Net income
Basic earnings per share(1)
Diluted earnings per share(1)

Dec. 31

Sep. 30

Jun. 30

Mar. 31

Dec. 31

Sep. 30

Jun. 30

Mar. 31

$ 

2,012  $ 

1,863  $ 

1,792  $ 

2,043  $ 

2,069  $ 

1,979  $ 

1,977  $ 

1,767 

928   

802   

779   

598   

770   

635   

$ 

$ 

5.97  $ 

4.42  $ 

4.68  $ 

5.95  $ 

4.41  $ 

4.66  $ 

834   

409   

2.99  $ 

2.98  $ 

890   

664   

4.84  $ 

4.82  $ 

869   

618   

4.47  $ 

4.46  $ 

822   

724   

5.19  $ 

5.17  $ 

543 

434 

3.10 

3.09 

(1) Earnings per share for the four quarters combined may not equal earnings per share for the year due to rounding.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
146  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON 
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of December 31, 2020, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of CP's management, including CEO and CFO, 
of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the 
Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2020, 
to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that they file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, 
summarized  and  reported  within  the  time  periods  specified  by  the  SEC  rules  and  forms  and  (ii)  accumulated  and  communicated  to  the  Company’s 
management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management  is  responsible  for  the  financial  statements  and  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  for  the 
Company as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. The Corporation’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable 
assurance to the Corporation’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. Due 
to  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also,  projections  of  any  evaluation  of 
effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in  conditions,  or  that  the  degree  of 
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

Management  has  assessed  the  effectiveness  of  the  Company’s  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  in  accordance  with  the  criteria  set  forth  by  the 
Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  in  Internal  Control  –  Integrated  Framework  (2013).  Based  on  this  assessment, 
management  concluded  that  the  Company  maintained  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of  December  31,  2020.  All  internal  control 
systems,  no  matter  how  well  designed,  have  inherent  limitations.  Therefore,  even  those  systems  determined  to  be  effective  can  provide  only  reasonable 
assurance  with  respect  to  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting 
principles. 

The  effectiveness  of  the  Company's  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of December  31,  2020  has  been  audited  by  Deloitte  LLP,  the  Company's 
independent registered public accounting firm who audited the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K, as stated in their 
report, which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
During  the  three  months  ended  December  31,  2020,  the  Company  has  not  identified  any  changes  in  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  that  have 
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  147

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 
2020,  based  on  criteria  established  in  Internal  Control  —  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the 
Treadway  Commission  (COSO).  In  our  opinion,  the  Company  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

We  have  also  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board  (United  States)  (PCAOB),  the  consolidated 
financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, of the Company and our report dated February 18, 2021, expressed an unqualified 
opinion on those financial statements.

Basis for Opinion 
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of 
internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility 
is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the 
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and 
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable 
assurance  about  whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in  all  material  respects.  Our  audit  included  obtaining  an 
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating 
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We 
believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and 
the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over 
financial  reporting  includes  those  policies  and  procedures  that  (1)  pertain  to  the  maintenance  of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly 
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 
preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  company  are 
being  made  only  in  accordance  with  authorizations  of  management  and  directors  of  the  company;  and  (3)  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding 
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial 
statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of 
effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in  conditions,  or  that  the  degree  of 
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Deloitte LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants
Calgary, Canada 
February 18, 2021

 
 
148  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  149

PART III

 
150  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors of Registrant 
The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 
This information will also be contained in the management proxy circular that we prepare in accordance with applicable Canadian corporate and securities 
law requirements.

Executive Officers of Registrant
The information regarding executive officers is included in Part I of this annual report under Information about our Executive Officers, following Item 4. Mine 
Safety Disclosures. 

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 

Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers
The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 
This information will also be contained in the management proxy circular that we prepare in accordance with applicable Canadian corporate and securities 
law requirements.

ITEM  12.  SECURITY  OWNERSHIP  OF  CERTAIN  BENEFICIAL  OWNERS  AND 
MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR 
INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 
This information will also be contained in the management proxy circular that we prepare in accordance with applicable Canadian corporate and securities 
law requirements.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item will be contained in the Company’s Form 10-K/A, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2020. 
This information will also be contained in the management proxy circular that we prepare in accordance with applicable Canadian corporate and securities 
law requirements.

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  151

PART IV

 
152  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

The following documents are filed as part of this annual report: 

(a)

Financial Statements 

The financial statements filed as part of this filing are listed on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8. Financial Statements and 
Supplementary Data. 

(b)

Financial Statement Schedule 

Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Beginning balance 
at January 1
(in millions of Canadian dollars)
Accruals for personal injury and other claims provision(1)

Additions charged 
to expenses

Payments and 
other reductions

Impact of FX

Ending 
balance at 
December 31

2018

2019

2020
Environmental liabilities

2018

2019

2020

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

$ 

118  $ 

152  $ 

141  $ 

78  $ 

82  $ 

77  $ 

93  $ 

142  $ 

105  $ 

6  $ 

6  $ 

10  $ 

(60)  $ 

(152)  $ 

(119)  $ 

(7)  $ 

(8)  $ 

(6)  $ 

1  $ 

(1)  $ 

(1)  $ 

5  $ 

(3)  $ 

(1)  $ 

152 

141 

126 

82 

77 

80 

(1) Includes WCB, FELA, occupational, damage, and other.

(c)

Exhibits  

Exhibits are listed in the exhibit index below. The exhibits include management contracts, compensatory plans and arrangements required to be filed as 
exhibits to the Form 10-K by Item 601 (10) (iii) of Regulation S-K.
Exhibit
3

Description
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws:

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

4

4.1

4.2

4.3

Restated Certificate and Articles of Incorporation of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 
to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 22, 2015, File 
No. 001-01342).

By-law No. 1, as amended, of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to Canadian Pacific 
Railway Limited’s Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 22, 2009, File No. 001-01342).

By-law No. 2 of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited’s Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2015, File No. 001-01342).

General By-law, as amended, of Canadian Pacific Railway Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 6-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on May 22, 2009, File No. 001-01342).

Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures:

Indenture dated as of May 8, 2007 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 8, 2007 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New York 
Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 20, 2008 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  153

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

4.10

4.11

4.12

4.13

4.14

4.15

4.16

4.17

4.18

4.19

4.20

4.21

4.22

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 15, 2009 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 23, 2010 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of 
New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 1, 2011 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 2, 2015 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 3, 2015 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 24, 2015 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Indenture dated as of October 30, 2001 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 23, 2004 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New York 
Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 12, 2011 between Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 13, 2011 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of New 
York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 24, 2015 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 to Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Indenture dated as of July 15, 1991 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 1996 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Harris Trust and Savings 
Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 24, 2015 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to Harris Trust and Savings Bank) (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 4.17 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Indenture dated as of May 23, 2008 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 
First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 24, 2015 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company and Computershare Trust Company of Canada (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to Canadian Pacific 
Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Indenture dated as of September 11, 2015, from Canadian Pacific Railway Company to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 
as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Registration Statement on Form 6-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2015, File No. 001-01342).

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 11, 2015 between Canadian Pacific Railway Company and The Bank of 
New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 24, 2015 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

 
154  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

4.23

4.24

4.25

4.26

4.27

4.28

4.29

10

10.1*

10.2

10.3*

10.4*

10.5*

10.6

10.7*

10.8*

10.9*

Guarantee of Canadian Pacific Railway Company’s Perpetual 4% Consolidated Debenture Stock dated as of December 18, 
2015, between Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Canadian Pacific Railway Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
4.23 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, 
File No. 001-01342). 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 16, 2018 among Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Canadian Pacific Railway 
Company and Wells Fargo Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Current Report 
on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2018, File No. 001-01342).

Officers’ Certificate of Canadian Pacific Railway Company dated March 13, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 
24, 2019, File No. 001-01342).

Description of Securities – Equity Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s 
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2020, File No. 001-01342). 
Form of 2.050% Note due 2030 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Current Report 
on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 6, 2020, File No. 001-01342).

Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 5, 2020, by and among Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as issuer, 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on March 6, 2020, File No. 001-01342).
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 9, 2020, by and among Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as issuer, 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as guarantor, and Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as trustee (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on April 21, 2020, File No. 001-01342).

Material Contracts:
Compensation letter dated February 14, 2017, between the Company and Nadeem Velani (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.1 Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
February 21, 2017, File No. 001-01342).

Fourth Amending Agreement, dated as of June 23, 2017, amending the Credit Agreement, dated September 26, 2014, between 
Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as Borrower, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as Covenantor, Royal Bank of Canada, as 
Administrative Agent, and the various Lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2017, File No. 
001-01342).

Amendment dated as of January 31, 2017 to the Executive Employment Agreement dated July 23, 2016 and effective as of July 
1, 2017 between Keith Creel and Canadian Pacific Railway Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Canadian 
Pacific Railway Limited's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 16, 2017, File No. 
001-01342).

Offer of Employment Letter to Nadeem Velani dated October 18, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 Canadian 
Pacific Railway Limited’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 
2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Executive Employment Agreement, between the Canadian Pacific Railway Limited and Keith Creel effective July 1, 2017 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Third Amending Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2016, amending the Credit Agreement, dated September 26, 2014, between 
Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as Borrower, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as Covenantor, Royal Bank of Canada, as 
Administrative Agent, and the various Lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Canadian Pacific 
Railway Limited’s Registration Statement on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 29, 2016, File 
No. 001-01342).

CP 401(k) Savings Plan, as amended and restated effective October 27, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
December 21, 2015, File No. 333-208647).

Stand-Alone Option Agreement dated February 4, 2013 between the Registrant and Keith Creel (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 4.2 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on May 24, 2013, File No. 333-188827). 
Performance Share Unit Plan for Eligible Employees of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, adopted with effect from February 17, 
2009, as amended February 22, 2013, April 30, 2014 and February 18, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 
001-01342). 

10.10*

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited Amended and Restated Management Stock Option Incentive Plan, as amended and restated 
effective November 19, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  155

10.11*

10.12*

10.13*

10.14*

10.15*

10.16*

10.17*

10.18*

10.19*

10.20*

10.21*

10.22*

10.23*

10.24*

10.25*

10.26*

10.27*

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited Employee Share Purchase Plan (U.S.) dated July 1, 2006 ("ESPP (U.S.)"), and Amendment to 
the ESPP (U.S.) effective January 1, 2015, and Amendment to the ESPP (U.S.) January 1, 2016 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.5 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 
29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Directors' Stock Option Plan, effective October 1, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Canadian Pacific Railway 
Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Directors' Deferred Share Unit Plan, as amended effective July 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Canadian 
Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 
001-01342). 

Senior Executives' Deferred Share Unit Plan, effective as of January 1, 2001, as amended September 6, 2012 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited Employee Share Purchase Plan (Canada) dated July 1, 2006 ("ESPP (Canada)"), and 
Amendment to the ESPP (Canada) effective January 1, 2013, and Amendment to the ESPP (Canada) effective November 5, 
2013, and Amendment to the ESPP (Canada) effective July 17, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Canadian 
Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 
001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific U.S. Salaried Retirement Income Plan, as restated effective January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to 
Exhibit 10.11 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 
29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific U.S. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2013 ("CPUSERP"), and First Amendment to 
the CPUSERP effective November 14, 2013, and Second Amendment to the CPUSERP effective January 1, 2014 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Restricted Share Unit Plan for Eligible Employees of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, effective August 2, 2011, as amended 
February 21, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Short Term Incentive Plan for Non-Unionized Employees (Canada) and US Salaried Employees, effective January 1, 2014 
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 1, effective July 1, 2010, to the Defined Contribution Provisions (Appendix B) of the Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.16 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 
2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 2, effective April 1, 2011, to the Defined Contribution Provisions (Appendix B) of the Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.17 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 
2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 3, effective January 1, 2013, to the Defined Contribution Provisions (Appendix B) of the Canadian Pacific 
Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 
10.18 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 
2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 1 to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), consolidated as at January 
1, 2009, approved by the Board of Directors on December 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Canadian 
Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 
001-01342). 

Amendment Number 2, effective January 1, 2010, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 3, effective January 1, 2010, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 4, effective January 1, 2011, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

 
156  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

10.28*

10.29*

10.30*

10.31*

10.32*

10.33*

10.34*

10.35*

10.36*

10.37*

10.38*

10.39*

10.40*

10.41*

10.42*

10.43

10.44

Amendment Number 5, effective January 1, 2011, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 6, effective October 1, 2012, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 7, effective January 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 8, effective January 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 9, effective January 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 10, effective January 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan 
Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s 
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 11, effective January 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan 
Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s 
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 12, effective January 1, 2015, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan 
Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s 
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 13, effective January 1, 2015, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan 
Rules), consolidated as at January 1, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s 
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific Railway Company Secondary Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules), effective June 1, 2013 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 1, effective June 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Secondary Pension Plan (Pension Plan 
Rules), effective June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment Number 2, effective January 1, 2015, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Secondary Pension Plan (Pension 
Plan Rules) effective January 1, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-
K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Canadian Pacific Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 
to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File 
No. 001-01342). 

Executive Employment Agreement between Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Soo Line Railroad Company and Keith Creel, 
effective as of February 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

Amendment dated August 10, 2015, to the Executive Employment Agreement between Canadian Pacific Railway Company, Soo 
Line Railroad Company and Keith Creel, effective as of February 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to 
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 
001-01342). 

Credit Agreement dated as of September 26, 2014 among Canadian Pacific Railway Company and CPR Securities Limited, as 
borrowers, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as covenantor, the Financial Institutions that are signatories to the Credit 
Agreement, as Lenders, the Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, RBC Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 
TD Securities, Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and Citibank, N.A., Canadian Branch, as Co-Lead Arrangers, RBC 
Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as Joint Bookrunners, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Syndication Agent, The 
Toronto-Dominion Bank, Morgan Stanley MUFG Loan Partners, LLC and Citibank, N.A., Canadian Branch, as Co-Documentation 
Agents (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

First Amending Agreement dated as of June 15, 2015, to the Credit Agreement dated September 26, 2014, among Canadian 
Pacific Railway Company and CPR Securities Limited, as borrowers, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as covenantor, the 
signatories to this First Amending Agreement to the Credit Agreement, as Lenders, the Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative 
Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 

10.45

10.46

10.47*

10.48

10.49* **

10.50* **

10.51* **

10.52* **

10.53* **

10.54* **

10.55* **

21.1**

22.1**

23.1**

24.1**

31.1**

31.2**

32.1**

32.2**

101.INS**

101.SCH**

101.CAL**

101.LAB**

101.DEF**

101.PRE**

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  157

Second Amending Agreement dated as of September 17, 2015, to the Credit Agreement dated September 26, 2014, among 
Canadian Pacific Railway Company and CPR Securities Limited, as borrowers, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as covenantor, 
the signatories to the Second Amending Agreement to this Credit Agreement, as Lenders, the Royal Bank of Canada, as 
Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016, File No. 001-01342). 
Fifth Amending Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2018, amending the Credit Agreement, dated September 26, 2014, between 
Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as Borrower, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as Covenantor, Royal Bank of Canada, as 
Administrative Agent, and the various Lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Canadian Pacific 
Railway Limited's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 11, 2018, File No. 
001-01342).
Amendment dated as of January 1, 2019, to the Executive Employment Agreement between Canadian Pacific Railway Company 
and Keith Creel, dated July 23, 2016 and effective as of July 1, 2017 as amended as of January 31, 2017 (incorporated by 
reference to Exhibit 10.49 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 
on February 15, 2019, File No. 001-01342).
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2019, between Canadian Pacific Railway Company, as 
Borrower, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, as Covenantor, Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent, and the various 
Lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Canadian Pacific Railway Limited's Current Report on Form 8-
K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2019, File No. 001-01342).
Amendment Number 3, effective June 1, 2013, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules) 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009.
Amendment Number 14, effective May 1, 2017, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules) 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009.

Amendment Number 15, effective January 1, 2019, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules) 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009.
Amendment Number 16, effective January 1, 2021, to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company Pension Plan (Pension Plan Rules) 
consolidated as at January 1, 2009.

Offer of Employment Letter to Jeffrey Ellis dated October 19, 2015.

Offer of Employment Letter to John Brooks dated March 1, 2019.

Offer of Employment Letter to Mark Redd dated August 13, 2019.

Subsidiaries of the registrant
List of Issuers and Guarantor Subsidiaries

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Power of attorney (included on the signature pages of this Form 10-K)

CEO Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications

CFO Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications

CEO Section 1350 Certifications

CFO Section 1350 Certifications

Inline XBRL Instance Document

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
The following financial information from Canadian Pacific Railway Limited’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended 
December 31, 2020, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) includes: (i) the Consolidated Statements of 
Income for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018; (ii) the Consolidated Statements of 
Comprehensive Income for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018; (iii) the Consolidated Balance 
Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019; (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended 
December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018; (v) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three 
years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018; and (vi) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

104 **

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 * Management contract or compensatory arrangement 

** Filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K

 
158  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

Not applicable. 

  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  159

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its 
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LIMITED

(Registrant)

By:

/s/ KEITH CREEL

Keith Creel

Chief Executive Officer

Dated: February 18, 2021 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned do hereby appoint each of Nadeem Velani and Jeffrey J. Ellis, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign on his or 
her behalf the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2020, and any and all amendments thereto, and to file the same, 
with all exhibits thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company 
and in the capacities indicated on February 18, 2021. 

Signature
/s/ KEITH CREEL
Keith Creel

/s/ NADEEM VELANI
Nadeem Velani

/s/ ISABELLE COURVILLE
Isabelle Courville

/s/ JOHN R. BAIRD
John R. Baird

/s/ GILLIAN H. DENHAM
Gillian H. Denham

/s/ EDWARD R. HAMBERGER
Edward R. Hamberger

/s/ REBECCA MACDONALD
Rebecca MacDonald

/s/ EDWARD L. MONSER
Edward L. Monser

/s/ MATTHEW H. PAULL
Matthew H. Paull 

/s/ JANE L. PEVERETT
Jane L. Peverett

/s/ ANDREA ROBERTSON
Andrea Robertson

/s/ GORDON T. TRAFTON
Gordon T. Trafton

Title
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

Chair of the Board of Directors

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
                                
 
160  CP 2020 ANNUAL REPORT  

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Keith Creel 
President and Chief Executive Officer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Isabelle Courville 
Chair

Nadeem Velani     
Executive Vice-President and  Chief Financial Officer 

Keith Creel 
President and Chief Executive Officer

Mark Redd  
Executive Vice-President Operations

  John Brooks  
Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer   

    Laird Pitz 
Senior Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer

 Jeffrey Ellis  
Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary  

James Clements 
Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning  
and Technology Transformation

Mike Foran  
Vice-President Market Strategy and Asset Management 

 Chad Rolstad 
Vice-President Human Resources and Chief Culture Officer

Michael Redeker  
Vice-President and Chief Information Officer  

John R. Baird 
Director

Jill Denham 
Director

Edward R. Hamberger 
Director

Rebecca MacDonald 
Director

Edward Monser 
Director

Matthew H. Paull 
Director

Jane L. Peverett 
Director

Andrea Robertson 
Director

Gordon Trafton 
Director

EXCHANGE LISTINGS

The common shares of Canadian Pacific Railway Limited are listed on 
the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol CP.

CONTACT US

Investor Relations 
Email: investor@cpr.ca

Canadian Pacific Investor Relations 
7550 Ogden Dale Road S.E. 
Calgary, AB, Canada T2C 4X9

Shareholder Services 
Email: shareholder@cpr.ca

Canadian Pacific Shareholder Services 
Office of the Corporate Secretary 
7550 Ogden Dale Road S.E. 
Calgary, AB, Canada T2C 4X9

Transfer Agent and Registrar 
Computershare Investor Services Inc. serves as transfer agent and 
registrar for the common shares in Canada. Computershare Trust 
Company, N.A. serves as co-transfer agent and co-registrar for the 
common shares in the U.S. Visit the Computershare website at: 
investorcentre.com/cp

Auditors 
Deloitte LLP

CANADIAN PACIFIC
7550 Ogden Dale Road S.E. 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada  
T2C 4X9

cpr.ca