Entry into graduate programs is competitive. Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry.
English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements
English Language Proficiency Testing Exemptions by Country
Degree and Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement
To gain admission to a graduate program at UNBC, an applicant must have an approved credential and meet a minimum level of academic performance. Entry into our graduate programs is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee entry. Our guide below outlines the minimum credential and required grades for admission consideration.
Starting with the May (Spring) and September (Fall) 2023 admission intakes, we assess admissibility based on an international applicant's cumulative GPA in the degree we use to assess admissibility. Most institutions will include a cumulative GPA on the transcript. For those that do not, we will calculate the cumulative GPA for the entire degree. We do not convert to a UNBC grade scale (4.33). Rather, applicants are assessed based on the grading system of their institution.
How can I determine if I am eligible to apply for admission?
- Start by reviewing the degree requirements listed for your country below and the requirements for the program you are applying to attend. Pay particular attention to the program requirements. Some programs require a specific degree.
- Review the minimum required grade for your country. UNBC will be assessing your transcript to determine if you meet the requirement for admission and we do not pre-assess applicant transcripts prior to applying. However, you should be able to get a general sense of whether or not you will meet minimum requirements to be considered for admission by reviewing this guide. It is important to remember that graduate admissions is highly competitive and meeting the grade minimum is not a guarantee of application consideration or admission.
- On your transcript for the degree required to be considered for admission, find your cumulative GPA. If you do not have a cumulative GPA reported on your transcript, you can calculate this yourself by adding up all your grades (weighted) and dividing by total credits or your individual semester GPAs (weighted) and averaging.
- Your minimum credential and cumulative GPA must meet or exceed the minimum or your application will not be considered for admission and will be closed for not meeting general admission requirements.
International Graduate Admission Requirements by Country
If your country is not listed, or you have further questions, please email graduate-admissions@unbc.ca. The list below includes the most common grading scales in the country and individual institution grading scales are not included.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
| Country | Minimum credential | Minimum required grades |
| Afghanistan | 4 Year Bachelor's Degree; Licence | 80% |
| Albania | 4 Year Bachelor's Degree; Diplome Universitaire with Titullo | 8 on a 10 point scale or 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Algeria | Licence or Diplome | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Angola | Licenciatura | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Antigua and Barbuda | No Post Secondary degree level institutions | |
| Argentina | Licenciado/Titulo | 8 on a 10 point scale; Distinguido |
| Armenia | 5 year Bachelor's (Specialist Diploma) For Entry into PhD Degree - Candidat Nauk (Candidate of Sciences); Gitutiunneri Teknatsu (Candidate of Sciences) |
4 on a 5 point scale Good |
| Australia | 4 year Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division or Distinction |
| Austria | Bachelor Degree, Diplomstudim/Magister, Fachhochschuldiplom | 2; Gut |
| Azerbaijan | Masters Degree - 4 year Bachelor's Degree (Bakalavr) or Diploma Specialist For Entry into PhD Degree - Magistr (post -1997)l equivalent to Master's), Kandidat Nauk (equivalent to PhD, prior to 1991) |
4 on a 5 point scale or Good 4.3 on a 5 point scale |
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| Bahamas | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division |
| Bahrain | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Bangladesh | 4 year Bachelor's; Masters degree | Mid B Equivalent: First Class |
| Barbados | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division (60%); 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Belarus | Bachelor's Degree (Bakalavr); Diplom ob Okanchanii Vysshego Uchebnogo Zaredeniia (Specialist Diploma) | 7 on a 10 point scale or 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Belgium | Ingeneur; Licencie; Licenciaat or Kandidaat/Candidat | 8 on a 10 point scale; 80%; Grande Distinction |
| Belize | Bachelor's Degree | B; Second Class Upper Division |
| Benin | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien |
| Bermunda | No Post Secondary Degree level studies | |
| Bhutan | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | B; Very Good; 70% |
| Bolivia | Titulo de Bachiller Universitario; Licenciatura | 77%; Distinguido |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bachelor's Degree (Diplomirani); Advanced Diploma of Higher Education (Diploma Visokog Obrazovanja) | 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Botswana | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division |
| Brazil | Bacharelado ( minimum 4 year); Licenciado ( minimum 4 years) For Entry into PhD - Mestrado/Mestre |
8 on a 10 point scale 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Brunei | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division;B; 3.5 on a 5 point scale |
| Bulgaria | Bachelor's Degree | 4.5 on a 5 point scale |
| Burkina Faso | Matrise/Diplome d'Ingenieur | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien (Good) |
| Burundi | Diplome de Licence; Diplome d'Ingenieur ( minimum 4 year) | 70%; Grande Distinction |
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| Cambodia | Bachelor's Degree; Licence | 70%; B; 3 on a 4 point Scale |
| Cameroon | Diplome d'Ingenieur, Diplome de Professeur d'Enseignment Secondaire or Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Cape Verde | Licenciatura | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Cayman Islands | Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Central African Republic | Maitrise; Diplime d'Ingenieur | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Chad | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien; Good |
| Chile | Licenciatura; Titulo Profesional For Entry into PhD - Magister |
5 on a 7 point scale; Bueno;Good 5.8 on a 7 point scale (approx B+) |
| China | 4 year Bachelor;s Degree | B; 80% |
| Colombia | Licenciado; Titulo de (Subject) | 3.5 on a 5 point scale; Good |
| Congo | Diplome d' Etudes Superieures; Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien |
| Costa Rica | Licenciado; Bachiller/Bachillerto Universitaro For Entry into PhD - Maestria |
80%; 8 on a 10 point scale; Very Good 80%; 8 on a 10 point scale; Very Good |
| Croatia | Bachelor's Degree - Baccalaureus; Post Graduate Specialist Diploma (Diploma Specijalist) | 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Cuba | Titilo de Licenciado; Titulo de Ingeniero; Titulo de Doctor; Titulo de Arquite cto For Entry into PhD - Candidato a Doctor en Ciencias, Maestria |
4 on a 5 point scale; 80% 4 on a 5 point scale; 80% |
| Cyprus | Bachelor's Degree | 7 on a 10 point scale |
| Czech Republic | Bachelor's Degree (Bakalar) | B; 1. 5 on a 4 point scale; Velmi dobre |
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| Denmark | Candidatus Diplomingenior; Bachelor's Degree |
8 on a 13 scale (old scale); 7 on a 12 point scale(new) 10 on a 13 point scale (old scale); 10 on a 12 point scale (new) |
| Djibouti | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien |
| Dominica | No post-secondary degree level studies | |
| Dominican Republic | Licenciado/Professional Title | B; 80%; Muy Bueno |
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| Ecuador | Titulo de (subject area); Titulo de Licenciado | B; 8 on a 10 point Scale; 30 on a 40 point scale |
| Egypt | Bachelor's Degree | B; 80 %; Very Good |
| El Salvador | Licenencuado en (subject); Titulo de (subject) | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| England | Bachelor's Degree | Upper Second Class; 60% |
| Eritrea | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Estonia | Bachelor's Degree (Bakalaureusekraad); Professional Higher Education Diploma (Rakenduskorgharidusoppe Diplom) | B: 4 on a 5 point scale; Vaga Hea |
| Ethiopia | Doctor of (medical subject); 4 year Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4 point scale |
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| Fiji | 3 year Bachelor's Degree | B+ |
| Finland | Kandidat; Bachelor's Degree; Professional Title | 3.5 on a 5 point scale; |
| France | Licence; Maitrise ( until 2009) | 14 on a 20 point scale |
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| Gabon | Maitrise | Bien |
| Gambia | Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4.3 scale |
| Georgia | Bakalavris Akademiuri Kharishi; Diplomirebuli Specialisti; Diplomi Tsarchinebit (Diploma of Specialist) For Entry into PhD - Magistris Akademiuri Khariskhi or Diplomi Tsarchinebit |
B; 4 on a 5 point scale B; 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Germany | Magister Artium/Diplom; Staateseamen; Bachelor's Degree | 2.5; Gut |
| Ghana | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division (meets weighted B average) |
| Gibraltar | No Post Secondary Degree Level Institutions | |
| Greece | Ptychion | 7 on a 10 point scale |
| Greenland | Candidatus Bachelor or Diplomingenior |
8 on a 13 point scale 10 on a 13 point scale |
| Guatamala | Licenciado en (subject); Titulo de (subject); Ingeniero | 80% |
| Guinea | Diplome d'Etudes Superieures; Matrise; Diplome d'Etudes Approfondies | 14 on a 20 point scale; |
| Guyana | Bachelor Degree | Pass with Distinction; 4 on a 5 point scale |
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| Haiti | Bachelors Degree; Diplome; Licence | 70% |
| Holy See | Very Specific Ecclesiastical education not normally recgonized outside of those fields ( Baccalaureate) | |
| Honduras | Licenciado; Titulo | B; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Hong Kong | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Honours, Upper Division |
| Hungary | Egyetemi Oklevel | 4 on a 5 point scale |
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| Iceland | Candidatus Mag | 7.50 on a 10 point scale |
| India | 4 yr Bachelor's degree 3 yr Bachelor's degree - awarding institute must be accredited by India's National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a grade of A or better http://www.naac.gov.in |
First Class; Division 1; B |
| Indonesia | Bachelor's Degree (Sarjana I) | 3 on a 4 point scale; B |
| Iran | Professional Doctorate; Bachelor's Degree (Licence or Karshenasi) | 14 on a 20 point scale; 80% |
| Iraq | Bachelor's Degree | B; 70% |
| Ireland | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Honours |
| Israel | 4 yr Bachelor's Degree | B; 75% |
| Italy | Laurea | 25 on a 30 point scale |
| Ivory Coast | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale |
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| Jamaica | Bachelor's Degree For Entry into PhD: Masters Degree |
Second Class Upper Division Second Class Upper Division |
| Japan | Bachelor's Degree (Gakushi) | 3 on a 4 point scale; B |
| Jordan | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale; B |
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| Kazakhstan | Bakalavr (4 years of study); Specialist Diploma For Entry into PhD: Kandidat Kauk (Candidate of Sciences) |
3 on a 4 point scale; B 4 on a 5 point scale (before 2005) 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Kenya | Bachelor's Degree For Entry into PhD: Master's Degree |
Second Class Upper Division Second Class Upper Division |
| Kiribati | No Post Secondary Degree level Institutions | |
| Kosovo | Bacelor; Baccalaureus | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Korea | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale; 80% |
| Kuwait | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale; B |
| Kyrgyzstan | Bachelor's Degree (Bakalavr); Specialist Diploma For Entry into PhD: Kandidat Kauk (Candidate of Sciences) |
4 on a 5 point scale; Good 4 on a 5 point scale |
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| Laos | Bachelor's Degree ( 5 years until 2009); Bachelor's Degree (4 years after 2009) | 3 on a 4 point scale;B |
| Latvia | Bakalaura Diploms (Bachelor's Degree); Professional Bachelor's Degree; Magistras (pre 2001) | 7 on a 10 point scale |
| Lebanon | 4 year Bachelor's (see France for French Patterned Universities) | 80% |
| Lesotho | Master's Degee; Bachelor of Law | B; 70% |
| Liberia | Master's Degree | B; 80% |
| Libya | Bachelor's Degree For Entry into PhD: Master's Degree |
Very Good; 75% Very Good; 75% |
| Liechenstein | Bachelor's Degree; Diplom (from Fachochschule) | 5 on a 6 point scale |
| Lithuania | Bakalauro Diplomas (Bachelor's Degree); Auksjo Mokslo Diplomas | 4 on a 5 point scale; 8 on a 10 point scale; 75% |
| Luxembourg | Bachelor's | 16 on a 20 point scale; Very Good |
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| Macau | Bachelor's Degree; Licenciatura | Second Class Upper Division; 72%; 2.7 on a 4 point scale |
| Macedonia | Bachelor; Visoko Obrazovanja | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Madagascar | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Malawi | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division; 70%; Pass with Marginal Distinction |
| Malaysia | 4 year Bachelor's Degree (Honours) For Entry into PhD: Master's Degree |
Second Class Upper Division Second Class Upper Division |
| Maldives | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Mali | Diplome de l'Ecole Normale Superior; Diplome d'etudes Approfondies | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Malta | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division |
| Mauritania | Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale; Bien |
| Mauritius | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division; 60% |
| Mexico | Titulo de Licenciado; Titulo (Professional) de (subject area) | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Moldova | Diploma de Licenta | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Mongolia | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Montenegro | Diploma Primijenjenih Osnovnih Studija; Diploma:Uvjerenje o Zavrsenim Osnovnim Akademskim Studijama | B; 9 on a 10 point scale |
| Morocco | Licence | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Mozambique | Licenciatura | 17 on a 20 point scale |
| Myanmar | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division |
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| Namibia | Bachelor's Degree | B; 70% |
| Nepal | Bachelor's Degree | First Division; 60% |
| Netherlands | Doctoraal Degree (drs.); Meester; Ingenieur | 7.5 on a 10 point scale |
| New Zealand | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class (Division I) |
| Nicaragua | Licenciado; Titulo de (subject area) | 80% |
| Niger | Maitrise | 15 on a 20 point scale |
| Nigeria | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division (meets weighted B average) |
| Norway | Bachelorgrad (Bachelor's Degree); Mastergrad (Master's Degree) | 2.5 or Laudabilis; B Very Good |
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| Oman | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale; B; Very Good |
| Pakistan | 4 year Bachelor's Degree; Master's Degree; B.Eng; B.Sc(Eng.); B.Tech; B.Pharm.; M.B.B.S; B.Arch | First Class; Division I; 60%; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Palestine National Authority | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | 80%; B: Very Good; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Panama | Licenciado en (subject area); Titulo de (subject area) | 81%; Bueno: B |
| Papua New Guinea | Bachelor's Degree | Class II Division A |
| Paraguay | Titulo de Licenciado; Titulo de (professional title) | 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Peru | Titulo de Licenciado; Ingeniero For Entry into PhD: Maestro |
14 on a 20 point scale 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Philippines | Completion of both Bachelor's and Masters Degree (Prior to 2013/2014) 4 year Bachelor's (after 2013/14) |
1.5 Very Good 1.5 Very Good |
| Poland | Bachelor's Degree; Licencjat; Inzynier | Dobry Plus; Better than Good; 4.5 on a 5 point scale |
| Portugal | Licenciado | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Puerto Rico | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | B; 80% 3 on a 4 point scale |
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| Qatar | Bachelor's Degree | B; Very Good; 80%; 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Romania | Diploma de Licenta (Bachelor's Degree) | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Russian Federation | Bachelor's Degree; Specialist Diploma | 4 on a 5 point scale |
| Rwanda | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | 80%; Grande Distinction; 14 on a 20 point scale |
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| Samoa | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | 65%; B |
| Saudi Arabia | Bachelor's Degree | 80%; 4 on a 5 point scale; B: Very Good |
| Senegal | Diplome d'Estudes Superieures; Maitrise | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Serbia | Bachelor's Degree; Diplome Visokog Obrazocanja (second level degree obtained on completion of a four to six year course) | 8 on a 10 point scale; very good |
| Seychelles | No Post Secondary Degree Ievel institutions | |
| Sierra Leone | Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division |
| Singapore | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division |
| Slovakia | Bakalar; Absolvent Vysokej Skoly; Magister (pre 2003) | B; 1.5; 86% |
| Slovenia | Diplomant; Diplomirani; Univerzitetni Diplomant; Visoko Obrazovanji (pre 2000) | 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Solomon Islands | Bachelor's Degree (from University of the South Pacific) | B; 65% |
| Somalia | Laurea; Bachelor's Degree | B; 80% |
| South Africa | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | Second Class Upper Division |
| South Korea | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | B; 80%; 3 on a 4.5 point scale |
| Spain | Licenciado; Ingeniero; Arquitecto | 7 on a 10 point scale |
| Sri Lanka | 4 year Bachelor's Degree; Master's Degree | B+; Second Class Upper Division; 3.3 on a 4 point scale |
| St Kitts and Nevis | Bachelor's Degree (from University of West Indies) | Second Class Upper Division |
| St Lucia | Bachelor's Degree (from University of West Indies) | Second Class Upper Division |
| Sudan | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) For Entry into PhD: Masters Degree |
Second Class Upper Division; 70% Second Class Upper Division; 70% |
| Suriname | Doctoraal Examen (until 1983); Bachelor's Degree (since 1983) | Met Genoegen |
| Swaziland | Bachelor's Degree | 70%; Second Class First Division |
| Sweden | Bachelor's Degree ; Filosofie Kandidatexamen | 3 on a 4.5 point scale (120 points) |
| Switzerland | Diplome; Licence | 5 on a 6 point scale; 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Syria | 4 year Bachelor's Degree | 70% |
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| Taiwan | Bachelor's Degree | B; 70% |
| Tajikistan | Bakalavr; Specialist Diploma For Entry into PhD: Magistre (Master's) |
4 on a 5 point scale 4.3 on a 5 point scale |
| Tanzania | 4 year Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division |
| Thailand | Bachelor's Degree For Entry into PhD: Master's Degree |
3 on a 4 point scale 3.5 on 4 point scale |
| Togo | Diplome d'Ingenieur; Maitrise; Doctorat (Medicine) | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Tonga | Bachelor's Degree (from the University of the South Pacific) | B; 65% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Bachelor's Degree (Honours)(from the University of the West Indies) | Second Class Upper Division |
| Tunisia | Licence (minimum 4 year); Diplome d'Ingenieur/Architecture; Docteur en Medecine | 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Turkey | Lisans Diplomasi (Bachelor's Degree); Muhendis Diplomasi | 3 on a 4 point scale: BB: B |
| Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus | Lisans Diplomasi (Bachelor's Degree); Muhendis Diplomasi | 3 on a 4 point scale |
| Turkmenistan | Bakalawr (Bachelor's Degree); Secialist Diploma (prior to 2001) For Entry into PhD: Kandidat Nauk |
4 on a 5 point scale 4.3 on 5 point scale |
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| Uganda | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division |
| Ukraine | Bachelor's Degree; Specialist Diploma (post 1990) | 4 on a 5 point scale |
| United Arab Emirates | Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4 point scale; 80% |
| United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Upper Second Class |
| United States of America | Bachelor's Degree | 3 on a 4 point scale; B |
| Uruguay | ||
| Uzbekistan | Bakalavr Diplomi (Bachelor's Degree); Specials Diploma | Yaxshi; 71% |
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| Vanuatu | Bachelor's Degree (from the University of the South Pacific) | B; 65% |
| Venezuela | Titulo de Licenciado; Titulo de (subject area) | 3.3 on a 5 point scale; 7 on a 9 point scale; 13 on a 20 point scale (sciences); 14 on a 20 point scale |
| Vietnam | Bachelor's Degree For Entry into PhD: Master's Degree |
7 on a 10 point scale; 3 on a 4 point scale 7.7 on a 10 point scale |
| West Bank and Gaza | Bachelor's Degree | B; 3 on a 4 point scale; Very Good |
| West Indies | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Upper Second Class |
| Yemen | Bachelor's Degree | 78%; Very Good |
| Yugoslavia | Visoko Obrazovanja (2nd level degree of 4 years) | 4 on a 5 point scale; 8 on a 10 point scale |
| Zambia | Bachelor's Degree | B+; Meritorious |
| Zimbabwe | Bachelor's Degree (Honours) | Second Class Upper Division |
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English Language Requirements
Please consult the appropriate calendar for further information.
Study Permit Information
Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides the required information on how to obtain the necessary study permits/visa for study in Canada.