TORONTO (AP) — Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to President Donald Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' by unveiling a large sign on the Canadian shoreline that reads 'Lake Ontario. Now and Always.' The sign, measuring 24 by 12 feet (7.3 by 3.6 meters) and elevated on 6-foot (1.8-meter) legs, was revealed near Grimsby, Ontario, as Canadian leaders reacted with ridicule rather than outrage.
Ford, wearing a Team Canada soccer jersey, posed for photographs with the sign. The message is also displayed in French. Trump's order directed U.S. federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as 'Lake America,' which has drawn mixed reactions in Canada, including mockery and defiance.
Ford stated that Trump was attempting to rename the lake because Ontario and Canada were 'standing up for ourselves,' asserting that the name 'Lake Ontario' would endure beyond Trump's presidency. 'Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario,' Ford said in a video shared on social media.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew likened Trump to an aging rock band trying to revive an old hit, suggesting that Trump's actions are reminiscent of past efforts that are no longer relevant. Kinew referenced Trump's previous executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Canadian historian Robert Bothwell criticized the seriousness with which Trump is taken, while also noting the underlying implications of Trump's actions, suggesting they aim to subordinate Canada. Nelson Wiseman, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, remarked that Trump desires Canada to act as a vassal state, which irritates him.
The dispute arises amid deteriorating relations between the U.S. and Canada, particularly over trade issues. Recent negotiations have stalled, with both governments blaming each other for late demands, and Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs set to take effect next month.
Trump's order coincides with escalating tensions with Ford, who previously expressed that Ronald Reagan would be 'throwing up' over Trump's tariff policies. Trump dismissed Ford's comments as 'bluster' and criticized him personally.
Trump has a history of using maps to make political statements, including displaying a 'Gulf of America' map in the Oval Office. He has also shared images depicting Canada as part of the United States.
The name Lake Ontario is derived from the Huron Indigenous word 'oniatarí:io,' meaning 'lake of shining waters.' The province of Ontario was established in 1867 and named after the lake.
Wendat Nation Grand Chief Pierre Picard criticized Trump's move as an attempt to erase Indigenous history, stating, 'It is unacceptable for us, as a nation, to have a president who can eradicate our history, our culture and our identity.'
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the renaming, emphasizing the lake's Indigenous roots and noting that the name predates both the Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He stated that Trump cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name.