- Trump first threatened to rename the lake during a war of words with Ontario's premier.
- Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename the lake.
- Google Maps announced the change to align with the executive order.
- On Saturday, Ford unveiled a sign in Winona, Ont. saying 'Lake Ontario, now and always,' and Trump posted an AI video replacing a sign with 'Welcome to Lake America.'
- On Sunday, Canadian websites including Hydro Ottawa's outage map displayed 'Lake America' for Lake Ontario.
- Hydro One acknowledged the error, citing a third-party mapping service.
- Metrolinx said it is disabling the map function on the GO stations' page.
- Ford and Carney said the name change won't stick; Hochul said her state won't call it Lake America.
Google Maps' recent renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America for U.S. users has sparked backlash in Canada, where several official websites mistakenly adopted the change.3
Hydro One's outage map and Metrolinx's GO Transit site were among those affected, prompting swift corrections.78910
"We are aware that Lake Ontario is being incorrectly labeled on our outage map," a Hydro One spokesperson stated, emphasizing their commitment to rectify the error.
Metrolinx also acknowledged the issue, stating, "We are actively reviewing our websites to make sure they all identify Lake Ontario by its correct name: Lake Ontario."
Ontario Premier Doug Ford firmly rejected the name change, asserting, "No one's going to call it Lake of America. It's been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years. It's going to continue being Lake Ontario."45111213
The controversy stems from an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Ford criticized as an unnecessary provocation.12
Trump had previously threatened the renaming amid escalating tensions with Ford, who remarked, "You've eventually got to stand up to someone who just continuously attacks our country and insults our country."
In response to the uproar, New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that her state would not recognize the name change, reinforcing the sentiment that Lake Ontario will retain its historical name.
Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed this sentiment, declaring that Canadians will always know the lake by its original name, "then, now and always."
“Hydro One acknowledged the error, saying it originates from a third-party mapping service and is working to restore the proper geographic reference. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the name change won't stick, insisting the lake has been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years and will continue to be.”
CTV News
