Ontario Premier Doug Ford has introduced a new sign along the shore of Lake Ontario in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to rename the lake 'Lake America'. The sign, which is prominently displayed in baby blue with large white letters reading 'Lake Ontario', includes the subheading 'Now and Always' in both English and French. Ford stated that the sign was meant to reaffirm the lake's name 'in case President Trump — or anyone else — forgets'. He emphasized, 'Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario. And long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario.'
The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Al Jazeera. Trump's executive order, signed on Thursday, aimed to change how the U.S. federal government refers to the lake, which has faced criticism from various political figures, including Vermont Governor Phil Scott, who described the move as 'petty and disappointing'.
The ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. have led to boycotts of U.S. goods in Canada and calls for retaliatory measures. Ford has been vocal in his opposition to Trump, particularly following the breakdown of trade negotiations that resulted in U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. In a recent interview, Ford expressed his frustration with Trump, stating, 'He can kiss my a** as far as I’m concerned. We’re going to go at him full steam.'
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Ford and suggesting that Canada would face consequences if it did not comply with U.S. demands. Ford's latest sign is part of a series of actions he has taken against Trump, including a $75 million anti-tariff advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan's voice, which aired in the U.S. and was ultimately pulled after Trump canceled trade talks in response. Ford has been the Premier of Ontario since 2018 and has been a prominent figure in Canadian politics, often drawing comparisons to Trump, which he has rejected, stating that his family has been involved in politics long before Trump.