Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Lake Ontario will continue to be called by that name despite President Donald Trump signing an Executive Order directing for it to be renamed as “Lake America.” “The name is more than 400 years old, pre-dating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,” said Carney on Thursday. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms.” Insisting that Canadians are aware of the “naming reality,” Carney rejected Trump's directive for the lake, which borders the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The name change is the latest jab in an escalating trade war between the U.S. and Canada after talks collapsed last week, leading to tariffs being imposed by both countries.
The order applies to U.S. federal references of the lake and does not determine how Canada—or others—refer to the body of water. The “Lake Ontario” moniker has also firmly been rejected by many in the U.S., including New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul, who simply stated: “New York won’t be calling it that.” With tensions between the Trump Administration and Canada reaching new heights, here’s what to know about how lawmakers on both sides of the lake have responded to the Executive Order.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a vocal critic of the U.S. President, insisted “it’s Lake Ontario to Canadians and the rest of the world, now and forever.” In agreement, Ontario lawmaker Marit Stiles said: “It will always be Lake Ontario.” Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, Ontario, described the name change as “preposterous,” telling CNN: “We’re still going to call it Lake Ontario, I think many of you [Americans] will still call it Lake Ontario.” “The only person who is going to have a trouble with what to call it is your President,” Brown continued. It’s having the same reaction in Canada.” Pierre Poilievre, Canada's main opposition leader, staunchly pushed back on Trump’s directive.
It doesn't belong to President Donald Trump to rename on a whim,” he said. Tim Kennedy of New York referred to the trade war as "illogical" and accused Trump of distributing "juvenile" rhetoric. Former First Lady and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stated “it’s Lake Ontario” in response to the news.
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland argued the move was “more evidence we elected a toddler as President.” Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan announced plans to introduce a bill, titled the "Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act," that would nullify the name change. Denouncing the President's directive, Dingell said: “Donald Trump can sign all the Executive Orders he wants, but it will always be Lake Ontario.
It is our neighbor, our ally, and one of Michigan’s most important economic partners. It is a friendship that no stroke of a pen can erase.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told his social media followers: “Donald Trump picked a fight with Canada that is costing you money. Instead of fixing it, he is spending your tax dollars to rename Lake Ontario.” Sen.
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