Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2016
Oct. 31, 2015
Oct. 31, 2014
Sponsored Funds      
Investment advisory and administrative fees $ 809,102,000 $ 865,792,000 $ 900,478,000
Distribution fees 71,784,000 73,468,000 77,697,000
Service fees 107,684,000 116,448,000 125,713,000
Shareholder services fees 2,433,000 2,641,000 2,315,000
Other revenue 2,133,000 2,384,000 2,093,000
Total 993,136,000 1,060,733,000 1,108,296,000
Investment advisory fees waived by the Company 15,100,000 13,000,000 12,300,000
Proceeds from sales 10,895,000 44,736,000 79,829,000
Net realized gains (losses) 2,154,000 3,943,000 (81,000)
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Sponsored Funds 88,700,000 89,200,000  
Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Sponsored Funds 1,600,000 600,000  
Loan to Affiliate      
Loan to affiliate 5,000,000 0  
Interest income earned on loan to affiliate 128,000    
Interest receivable on the loan to affiliate $ 13,000    
Description of the variable interest rate on the loan to affiliate The loan earns interest equal to the one-year Canadian Dollar Offered Rate plus 200 basis points, which is payable quarterly in arrears.    
Hexavest Related Parties Agreements      
Sub-advisory fees paid to Hexavest $ 300,000 300,000 200,000
Reimbursement of fund subsidies to the Company from Hexavest 200,000 1,200,000  
Accounts Payable, Related Parties, Hexavest Subadvisory Agreement 100,000 100,000  
Fees earned from Hexavest for the sale of institutional separately managed accounts 2,400,000 2,400,000 $ 2,100,000
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties, Hexavest Cost Reimbursement Agreement 300,000 200,000  
Employee Loan Program      
Maximum loan amount available under the plan $ 20,000,000 $ 20,000,000  
Minimum fixed borrowing rate under the plan 0.90%    
Maximum fixed borrowing rate under the plan 2.90%