Ford unveils Lake Ontario sign following Trump's renaming order
Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a Lake Ontario sign in Winona Saturday, after United States President Donald Trump purported to change the name to "Lake America" amid escalating tensions and a brewing trade war.
It will remain Lake Ontario "now and forever," Ford told reporters Saturday in the small lakeside community on the outskirts of Hamilton.
"President Trump can call it whatever he wants but I can tell you that the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario," he said. "We're resilient and we're strong Canadians."
The sign, which reads "Lake Ontario Now and Always," comes as tensions between Canada and the U.S. have escalated since trade negotiations fell apart on Aug. 21. The two allies have accused each other of seeking 11th-hour changes.
Prime Minister Mark Carney previously said the agreement became untenable. The federal government unveiled retaliatory measures, set to start on Sept. 8.
Trump first threatened to rename Lake Ontario during an escalating war of words with Ford. The two exchanged insults, with the premier calling the president a bully, among other things, and Trump saying the premier was a "less charismatic, intelligent" version of his late brother, Rob Ford.
On Thursday, the president signed an executive order to change the name to "Lake America".
Sitting near a map with the name "Lake America" over the body of water, Trump said "entitled" Canada has been difficult to deal with and repeated claims the country was ripping off the U.S.
"They want to be treated like a state, but they are not a state," Trump said. "The Canadian officials have treated us very badly."
In Canada, the move prompted incredulity by officials on social media.
Carney said Canadians will call the body of water Lake Ontario "now and always," while Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said "we're into some real foolishness now."
On Saturday, Ford said he's received numerous calls from governors who have told him they'll continue to call the body of water Lake Ontario.
"We're always going to protect our sovereignty," he said. "We'll never ever back down from a bully."
Trump signs order to rename Lake Ontario as 'Lake America'
