Ontario's Doug Ford unveils new Lake Ontario sign
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly rejected a U.S. executive order that renamed Lake Ontario to 'Lake America.' Ford emphasized Canadian sovereignty and trade resilience, stating that the province will continue to use the traditional name despite the diplomatic tension.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights escalating trade and diplomatic friction between Canada and the United States under the current administration.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a new Lake Ontario sign Saturday afternoon, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump renamed the Great Lake as “Lake America.”
Ford’s appearance in Winona, Ont., came as Canada-U.S. trade tensions continue to escalate, with the premier using the name change to reinforce his message that Ontario will “never back down” and always defend its interests.
“President Trump can call it whatever, but I can tell you the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario,” Ford said.
“I receive numerous calls from governors that are saying, ‘we’re always going to call it Lake Ontario,’ and obviously Canada is always going to call it Lake Ontario. So that’s our message to President Trump,”
Trump signed an executive order directing the federal agencies to transition to the name “Lake America” in official databases and maps.
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