Doug Ford installs 'Lake Ontario' sign to counter President Trump's executive order renaming the body of water as 'Lake America'
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a large blue sign at the Fifty Point Conservation Area in Hamilton, Ontario, to reaffirm the lake's traditional name. The sign, which reads "Lake Ontario - Now and Always," serves as a direct response to an executive order signed by President Trump to rename the body of water "Lake America." Ford stated that the lake's name existed long before the administration's decision and will persist after President Trump is gone. The move comes amid a deepening trade war between the United States and Canada, where the administration announced 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. While Google Maps adopted the name change, MapQuest and Apple Maps have shown more resistance. The name change has drawn criticism from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca, who argued that the name reflects Indigenous culture. Ford's retaliatory action highlights the ongoing friction between the two nations as trade negotiations fall apart and the administration continues to pressure Canada for concessions.
Sources
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Ontario’s Doug Ford prods Trump with sign rejecting ‘Lake America’ name
Al Jazeera
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Google Maps Changes Lake Ontario to Lake America Following Trump’s Executive Order
The New York Times
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Opinion | Trump’s next renaming efforts
The Washington Post
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Ontario premier slams Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Seneca Nation calls for reversal
CBS News
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Google Maps Faces Fury for Caving to Trump's Lake America Demand
The Daily Beast