Google Renames Lake Ontario to Lake America Amid US-Canada Trade War
Google has updated its maps application to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' for users in the United States, following an order by President Donald Trump. This change reflects a recent escalation of a trade war between the US and Canada, which has seen both countries impose billions of dollars in added tariffs on each other's goods.
The decision is based on Google's practice of using names assigned by the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This means that those using Maps in the US will see 'Lake America', while those in Canada and outside the US and Canada will continue to see both names.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Trump's order with a billboard-sized message on the Canadian shore, reading 'Lake Ontario. Now and forever.'