4. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The significant accounting policies of the Company include the following:
(a) Principles of consolidation
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of a Company so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that are currently exercisable are taken into account. The financial statements of the Company’s former wholly-owned subsidiaries, 27 Red and 4 Touchdowns are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commenced to the date that control ceased.
Intercompany balances and transactions and any unrealized income and expenses arising from intercompany transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
(b) Financial instruments
i) Financial assets
The Company classifies its financial assets in the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”), loans and receivables, held-to-maturity and available for sale (“AFS”). The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of financial assets at recognition.
Fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets are classified as FVTPL when the financial asset is held-for-trading or it is designated as FVTPL. A financial asset is classified as FVTPL when it has been acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the near future; it is a part of an identified portfolio of financial instruments that the company manages and has an actual pattern of short-term profit-taking or if it is a derivative that is not designated and effective as a hedging instrument. Upon initial recognition, attributable transaction costs are recognized in profit or loss when incurred. Financial instruments at FVTPL are measured at fair value, and changes therein are recognized in profit or loss. The Company classifies its cash as FVTPL.
Loans and receivables
Trade receivables, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as loans and receivables. Loans and receivables are initially recognized at the transaction value and subsequently carried at amortized cost less impairment losses. The impairment loss on receivables is based on a review of all outstanding amounts at year-end. Interest income is recognized by applying the effective interest rate method.
Held-to-maturity
Held-to-maturity financial assets are recognized on a trade-date basis and are initially measured at fair value using the effective interest rate method.
Available-for-sale
AFS financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated as AFS or not classified in any of the other financial assets categories. Changes in the fair value of AFS financial assets other than impairment losses are recognized as other comprehensive loss and classified as a component of equity. The Company classifies its investment as AFS.
(ii) Financial liabilities
The Company classifies its financial liabilities as FVTPL or other financial liabilities.
Fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities classified as FVTPL include financial liabilities held-for-trading and financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as FVTPL. Fair value changes on financial liabilities classified as FVTPL are recognized in profit or loss.
Other financial liabilities
Other financial liabilities are non-derivatives and are recognized initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred, and are subsequently stated at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Any difference between the amounts originally received, net of transaction costs, and the redemption value is recognized in profit or loss over the period to maturity using the effective interest method. Other financial liabilities are classified as current or non-current based on their maturity date. The Company classifies accounts payable and accrued liabilities, due to related parties, and convertible debentures as other financial liabilities.
(iii) Impairment
The Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is objective evidence that financial assets, other than those designated as FVTPL, are impaired. When impairment has occurred, the cumulative loss is recognized to profit or loss. For financial assets carried at amortized cost, the amount of the impairment loss recognized is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. When an AFS financial asset is considered to be impaired, cumulative gains or losses previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss in the period the impairment occurred.
(c) Mineral property interests
Costs directly related to the acquisition, exploration and evaluation of resource properties are capitalized once the legal rights to explore the resource properties are acquired.
If it is determined that capitalized acquisition, exploration and evaluation costs are not recoverable, or the property is abandoned or management has determined impairment in value, the property is written down to its recoverable amount.
From time to time, the Company acquires or disposes of properties pursuant to the terms of option agreements. Options are exercisable entirely at the discretion of the optionee, and accordingly, are recorded as mineral property costs or recoveries when the payments are made or received. After costs are recovered, the balance of the payments received is recorded as a gain on option or disposition of mineral property.
Once the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the extraction of mineral resources are demonstrable, mineral property interests attributable to that area of interest are first tested for impairment and then reclassified to mining property and development assets within property and equipment. To date, none of the Company’s mineral property interests has demonstrated technical feasibility and commercial viability. The recoverability of the carrying amount of any mineral property interests is dependent on successful development and commercial exploitation or, alternatively, sale of the respective areas of interest.
(d) Impairment
At the end of each reporting period, the Company’s assets are reviewed to determine whether there is any indication that those assets may be impaired. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount and the impairment loss is recognized in profit or loss for the period. For an asset that does not generate largely independent cash flows, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
When an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but to an amount that does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized immediately in profit or loss.
(e) Decommissioning liabilities
An obligation to incur decommissioning and site rehabilitation costs occurs when environmental disturbance is caused by exploration, evaluation, development or ongoing production.
Decommissioning and site rehabilitation costs arising from the installation of plant and other site preparation work, discounted to their net present value, are provided when the obligation to incur such costs arises and are capitalized into the cost of the related asset. These costs are charged against operations through depreciation of the asset and unwinding of the discount on the provision.
Depreciation is included in operating costs while the unwinding of the discount is included as a financing cost. Changes in the measurement of a liability relating to the decommissioning or site rehabilitation of plant and other site preparation work are added to, or deducted from, the cost of the related asset.
The costs for the restoration of site damage, which arises during production, are provided at their net present values and charged against operations as extraction progresses.
Changes in the measurement of a liability, which arise during production, are charged against operating profit. The discount rate used to measure the net present value of the obligations is the pre-tax rate that reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. To date the Company does not have any decommissioning liabilities.
(f) Income taxes
Income tax expense consisting of current and deferred tax expense is recognized to profit or loss. Current tax expense is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at period-end, adjusted for amendments to tax payable with regard to previous years.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities and the related deferred income tax expense or recovery are recognized for deferred tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted or substantively enacted tax rates expected to apply when the asset is realized or the liability settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that substantive enactment occurs.
A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Company intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
(g) Share-based payments
The Company grants stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The fair value of share-based payments to employees is measured at grant date, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and is recognized over the vesting period using the graded method. Fair value of share-based payments for non-employees is recognized and measured at the date the goods or services are received based on the fair value of the goods or services received. If it is determined that the fair value of goods and services received cannot be reliably measured, the share-based payment is measured at the fair value of the equity instruments issued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
For both employees and non-employees, the fair value of share-based payments is recognized as either an expense or as mineral property interests with a corresponding increase in option reserves. The amount to be recognized as expense is adjusted to reflect the number of share options expected to vest. Consideration received on the exercise of stock options is recorded in capital stock and the related share-based payment is transferred from the stock option reserve to capital stock. For unexercised options that expire, the recorded value is transferred to deficit.
(h) Convertible debentures
The liability component of convertible debentures is recognized initially at the fair value of a similar liability that does not have a conversion option. The equity component is recognized initially, as the difference between the fair value of the convertible debenture as a whole and the fair value of the liability component. Transaction costs are allocated to the liability and equity components in proportion to their initial carrying amounts. Subsequent to initial recognition, the liability component of the convertible debenture is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. The equity component is not re-measured subsequent to initial recognition.
(i) Loss per share
Loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to common shares of the Company by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. The Company uses the treasury stock method for calculating diluted loss per share. Under this method, the dilutive effect on earnings per share is calculated on the use of the proceeds that could be obtained upon exercise of options, warrants and similar instruments. It assumes that the proceeds of such exercise would be used to purchase common shares at the average market price during the period. However, the calculation of diluted loss per share excludes the effects of various conversions and exercise of options and warrants that would be anti-dilutive.
(j) Capital stock
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants are recorded as capital stock. The proceeds from the issuance of units of the Company are allocated between common shares and warrants based on the residual value method. Under this method, the proceeds are allocated first to capital stock based on the fair value of the common shares at the time the units are issued and any residual value is allocated to the warrants. When the warrants are exercised, the related value is transferred from the warrant reserve to capital stock. For unexercised warrants that expire, the recorded value is transferred from the warrant reserves to deficit.
(k) Foreign currency translation
Amounts recorded in foreign currency are translated into Canadian dollars as follows:
(i) Monetary assets and liabilities, at the rate of exchange in effect as at the balance sheet date;
(ii) Non-monetary assets and liabilities, at the exchange rates prevailing at the time of the acquisition of the assets or assumption of the liabilities; and
(iii) Revenues and expenses (excluding amortization, which is translated at the same rate as the related asset), at the rate of exchange on the transaction date.
Exchange differences are recognized in profit or loss in the period which they arise.
(l) Accounting standards issued but not yet applied
At the date of the approval of the financial statements, a number of standards and interpretations were issued but not effective. The Company considers that these new standards and interpretations are either not applicable or are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.