Can I tape the episodes off-air and use them in my classroom?

No. Changes to the Copyright Act that came into effect January 1, 1999 permit educational institutions to tape and use news and news commentary (excluding documentaries) for up to a year after broadcast. All other programs (including documentaries) may be kept for 30 days after the broadcast, but may not be used in a classroom unless a royalty is paid. The royalty rate, or tariff, has not yet been approved by Canada's Copyright Board.

Canada: A People's History is clearly a documentary series. It cannot, therefore, be taped off-air and used for instructional purposes.