Lesson Plan: Solving the Softwood Lumber Dispute

Lesson Plan

Before Exploring

On the board or chart paper, write the adage: It's OK to criticize, but only if you have a better idea. Discuss with students that it is easier to offer criticism than a solution. Ask: Are there problems in the world that simply do not have a ready solution? Discuss students' responses.

Outline the Opportunity

Direct students to the topic At Loggerheads: The Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Dispute on the CBC Digital Archives website. Students will review the clip titled "Taxing Canada's Sovereignty?", and browse the rest of the topic, to answer the following questions:

What were the major components of the 1987 Memorandum of Understanding?

Do you believe Canada's sovereignty was or was not compromised by the Memorandum? Why?

If you were NDP leader Ed Broadbent, what would you have done or suggested in 1987 regarding the softwood lumber dispute?

Students can work independently or in pairs to respond to the questions.

Revisit and Reflect

Allow students time to share their solutions from question 3. Have students discuss whether their solutions would work today to solve the continuing softwood lumber dispute.

Extension

Students can write letters to their MPs outlining their ideas about the softwood lumber dispute.