U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” sparking mixed reactions among Americans, including some members of the House of Representatives. Democratic representatives from New York and Michigan introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to reverse the name change and prevent future alterations to any of the Great Lakes.
The controversy escalated when Google renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America” on its Google Maps application for U.S. users, and reports emerged that Trump urged Apple to do the same on Apple Maps. However, MapQuest publicly announced that it would not alter the name.
In an interview with The Current, Representative Tim Kennedy discussed the bill introduced to counter the president’s executive order. Kennedy emphasized that the renaming of Lake Ontario was a distraction from more critical issues, such as economic policies impacting relations with Canada.
Kennedy highlighted the strong historical ties between the U.S. and Canada, emphasizing the close bond between the two nations across various aspects, including trade, culture, and shared border communities. He expressed confidence that the American people would respond through the upcoming elections to ensure accountability and maintain a positive relationship with Canada.