New US-Canada Flashpoint: Trump Targets Lake Ontario’s Name
What Happened
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for US government use. The order updates US federal maps and geographic databases but does not require Canada or international bodies to adopt the new name.
Key Takeaways
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney swiftly rejected the move, saying the lake’s name is more than 400 years old and originates from the Wendat word Ontari'io. He insisted Canadians would continue to call it Lake Ontario “then, now and always.”