- Doug Ford unveiled a large sign marking Lake Ontario in Winona, Ont., in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's widely condemned renaming of the lake as 'Lake America'.
- Ford emphasized that political leaders on both sides of the border will continue using Lake Ontario, stating, “President Trump can call it whatever, but I can tell you the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario.”
- Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the name change, citing the lake's Wendat origins and history, stating that the name is over 400 years old.
- Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to transition to the name 'Lake America' in official databases and maps.
- Ford took a defiant stance, asserting that Ontario will always protect its sovereignty and “never ever back down from a bully.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a new sign for Lake Ontario in Winona, Ontario, on Saturday, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump renamed the lake to 'Lake America'. Ford's action is a direct response to the controversial name change, which has drawn widespread condemnation.1234789
Ford stated, “President Trump can call it whatever, but I can tell you the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario,” reinforcing that the name has deep historical roots. He noted that the name originates from the Wendat word Ontari'o, meaning “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”, and has been in use for over 400 years.
The premier emphasized that political leaders across the U.S. have assured him they will continue to use the name Lake Ontario, stating, “I receive numerous calls from governors that are saying, ‘we’re always going to call it Lake Ontario.’” Ford's remarks come amid escalating Canada-U.S. trade tensions, as he reiterated his support for Ottawa in future negotiations, declaring, “No deal is better than a bad deal.” He described previous proposals as “terrible” for Ontario's economy, particularly affecting key sectors like steel and automotive manufacturing.
Ford concluded with a strong message of resilience, stating, “We’re resilient, and we’re strong Canadians... we’ll never ever back down from a bully ever.”
“Ford said political leaders on both sides of the border have told him they will keep using Lake Ontario, and he reiterated support for Ottawa in trade talks, calling the previous proposal 'terrible' and adding 'no deal is better than a bad deal.'”
