CBC Archives

Canada and the United States are the world's largest trading partners, but have faced an ongoing dispute in one area of trade: softwood lumber. The dispute dates back hundreds of years, but was exacerbated in the 1980s when the U.S. government slapped billions of dollars of fines on Canadian wood, jeopardizing thousands of jobs. The dispute raises serious questions about trade, sovereignty, and the real nature of Canada-U.S. relations.

Students will use presentation software to create a presentation explaining both sides in the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute. Students will begin by defining the following terms and phrases, which recur frequently in the debate:

softwood lumber

board foot

stumpage fees

countervailing duty

at loggerheads

Students will use the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site and other resources to explore the main issues in the softwood lumber dispute. Students will then create two word webs, one outlining Canada’s position, and the other outlining the position of the United States.

Have groups share their presentations with one another or with another class. Students should be prepared to ask and answer questions. Students should give their personal opinions on the dispute, supporting their opinions with details from their research.