Trump Renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’; Canada Rejects

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Ottawa: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to officially change the name of Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ within the United States, further stoking diplomatic and economic friction between the neighbouring allies.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney swiftly rejected the move, asserting that Canada will continue to recognise the body of water by its historic name. Carney noted that the designation derives from the 400-year-old Indigenous Wendat word Ontari'io—meaning ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big’ which predates both Canadian Confederation and the US Declaration of Independence. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also dismissed the declaration, stating the lake would always remain Lake Ontario in Canada.

The renaming executive order comes amidst a deepening trade conflict triggered by the collapse of bilateral negotiations last week. Washington has implemented 50 per cent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports, prompting Ottawa to enforce matching retaliatory levies on American goods while preparing further countermeasures ahead of threatened US tariffs on Canadian automotive exports.

Pic Credit: AFP