Google has jumped into the debate over Lake Ontario’s name following President Donald Trump’s executive order renaming it “Lake America,” saying the name on its Maps platform depends on where you are located.
The company said it updates Google Maps to reflect name changes from official government sources, which includes the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The GNIS formally changed Lake Ontario to “Lake America” in recent days.
As a result, Google said people using Maps in the U.S. will now see “Lake America,” while those in Canada will see Lake Ontario. Those living or visiting countries outside Canada and the U.S. will see a combination, with Lake Ontario listed but Lake America in parentheses.
“These updates follow our long-standing policy for bodies of water with names that vary from country to country, and are starting to roll out now,” Google wrote in its post.
University of Victoria geography professor Reuben Rose-Redwood isn’t surprised at the change.
“Google in particular, and I think Apple and Microsoft also, generally have a policy to use whatever the official federal names are for geographic places,” Rose-Redwood said.
When Trump changed the name for the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America,” Google, Apple and Microsoft followed suit. As of Sunday afternoon, Apple has yet to make a change to Lake Ontario on its Maps app.
But changing the name of a location on a map is relatively common, with Rose-Redwood noting it’s been seen with other places like the Falkland Islands, or even Victoria, B.C., which was originally known as Camosack, meaning “rush of water.”
“There’s this long history of using place-naming and renaming as an assertion of power,” he said. “Place naming itself is not a neutral practice; it’s inherently political in terms of the values and the assertions of authority to name and to map that we find today.”
He said symbols like Lake Ontario matter to the public and the names of places are “the very foundations of our geographical imaginations.” But he added that name changes like what Trump is doing are a “distraction.”
“I would be very surprised if this new name lasts beyond the Trump presidency,” he said. “Just as easily as he was able to rename this lake with the signing of an executive order, a new president, if it happens to be a Democrat, will likely just as easily remove Lake America from the map.”
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The Google Maps change comes just days after Trump signed his executive order directing the U.S. government to refer to Lake Ontario under the new name in his latest shot against Canada after trade talks fell apart last week.
He also criticized Canada’s trade policies while speaking in the Oval Office, but insisted he loved the country and that renaming the lake was not about sending a message.
The president’s original threat to make the name change came after Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded last Monday to Trump’s tariff threat against cars and trucks produced in Canada by saying he “can kiss my a– as far as I’m concerned.”
This prompted Trump to post on Tuesday that the U.S. was giving “serious consideration” to changing the name of the Great Lake.
Ford later that day spoke about his previous comments, admitting “things got a little heated” in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. He stressed he wanted to get a deal that was good for his province and for Canada.
Two days later, Trump followed through with the threat.
Ford responded to the name change on social media on Thursday and also with a billboard unveiling Saturday in Winona, Ont., near Hamilton, with the words “Lake Ontario Now and Always” emblazoned on it.
“President Trump can call it whatever he wants, but I can tell you the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario,” Ford told reporters. “I received numerous calls from governors; they’re saying we’re always going to call it Lake Ontario, and obviously Canada’s always going to call it Lake Ontario.”
When asked for comment on Google’s decision Sunday, Ford’s office referred Global News to the premier’s previous comments.
While Google Maps has changed the lake’s naming, MapQuest earlier this week said it wouldn’t alter its maps.
Trump’s executive order says the U.S. lays claim to most of the “volume” of Lake Ontario and is mostly responsible for its security, economic activity and environmental stewardship.
— with files from Global News’ Sean Boynton and Touria Izri
i Feel Strong about this !! Stay Strong Canada make something that is ours drop GOOGLE MAPS create our own Trump can have Google !!!
Google should be ashamed of this move. Trump is a spoiled child who has nothing better to do but stir up poop! Let’s add the Epstein files to Google. Bet that would never happen!
It’s Lake Ontario
It is Lake Ontario forever and ever!!
@Jack…Ontario was named after the lake, not the other way around.
Screw you google, switching my search engine to Firefox or any other search engine. You are coward bootlicking maga turds.
If we’re going to reassign named ‘ll take Lake America over Vembanad Lake in Kerala.
Now that Donald Trump has claimed ownership of Lake Ontario, it’s just a matter of time before it becomes covered in algae.
To be more geographically correct the lake should be named LAKE NORTH AMERICA since the whole lake does sit in the whole continent of North America not just part of Ontario and the USA. Just had a thought to. Trump names the lake after the whole USA, CANADA NAMED IT AFTER ONE PROVINCE, ONTARIO and NOT canada. Hmm….interesting huh? Maybe THIS is what Mr. Trump has been pointing out to us all and most of us have missed it….lake ontario instead of lake Canadam lol….
You were very fast at bending the knee for the orange king- why do you go along with this nutcase- Canadian
It’s Lake Ontario and it will never change no matter what butt head says.
Big drop in Epstein news stores so the usual, Trump generates some fresh chaos and the media jumps right on it to work the story to death. He’s not smart but cunning, a different kind of self-serving intelligence that only benefits one person.
It is Lake Ontatio not Lake America. Quit licking Dumbos boots.
When is the next rocket going to the moon, I hear they are looking for a President
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Shocking that websites might fight content from .com instead of .ca sources. Stop having fits over this nonsense. What are you? 8 years old?
Being that the lake is shared with U.S.and Canada would think its in the u.s. right to name their half whatever. Google ceo Sundar Pichai having sat with the buffoon at his swearing in ceremony on the 20th of Jan. last year along with all the other insecure lads who kiss the clowns’ tail (how did that fair with Elon?) will do as he’s told. All of us should find another search engine …google that one
Does anyone every refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America? No. Only MAGA. No one will refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America either. Trump will be out the door and whomever replaces him will just change it back.
@Sheila Munroe. The Indigenous citizens of Canada whose land you stole and continue to colonize while they have to boil water to stay alive?
@Ben. Then what are you Clownadians whining about? Do any of you have a positive IQ?
WHO CARES. Canadians should be a lot more concerned about Canada’s economy and rising prices on food
I am Canadian and totally disagree with the name change of Lake Ontario to the name a petulant dictator by executive order renamed!!! Totally unacceptable !!! This name has existed longer than either country and was named by our Indigenous citizens of Canada!!! Shame on you Goggle. Changing truth doesn’t lead to much confidence in the truthfulness of your company unless you are in the US pocket!!! If so, shame on you!!!!
so the usa version takes priority over every other nation in the world. Phuck google
@lol aug 30 1022pm. Clownada? Is this the US kindergarten phase of international diplomacy? I don’t care what your president renames, it has no effect on me.
This information for lake America is incorrect!
Pretty disappointed in Google changing this name, this shouldn’t even be legal, especially since the lake is in 2 countries.
I’m outraged over the renaming of Lake Ontario. As the President of the United States he should be ashamed of himself to assume he has the right to deface history like this. It is insulting and disgusting that Americans would support this nonsense.
Lake Ontario is older than the USA you caved to a bully as a Canadian shame on you. Never lake America I
@Anna Maria Is Canadoh going to ban Google are is it going to be renamed Clownada?
So if we can find a small island on the Canadian side of the line in Lake Ontario, we are all good to call it Epstein Island?
All Canadians should boycott googele products for services offered. Google maps is now deleted from my computer. What cowards kissing Trumps ASS. FAT ASS, LOL
Google seems to know how to manipulate the public. Policy or no policy. Lake ONTARIO belongs on any map as LAKE ONTARIO. Who the hell does trump think he is by naming everything and anything to what he desires or feels he needs to do to coerce others into thinking his way. B.S. IF TRUMP, were to come to Canada, maybe we can take him on a visit to lake Ontario and give him a good view of it. Very wet indeed. CANADA AND LAKE ONTARIO WILL ALWAYS BE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THIS TYRANT SAYS. EH?
Lake Ontario will always be Lake Ontario and Trump will always be a _______.
Very poor decision of Google.
Google is PATHETIC …. stop kissing Trump’s derriere. They are pathetic, spineless and gutless.
Three cheers for LAKE ONTARIO.
@Angry Wazy is a subsidiary of Google. God Canadians really are low IQ, eh?
Canada doesn’t even a company that can map its own territory. What an absolute joke of a country
Immediately after reading this, downloaded Waze. And not only me.
Goodbye Google maps.
I wounder which Cheek Google Executive Kiss to be in the top ten companies of the orange Turd.
To the ijit saying Trump can’t do that cause “international law”. When did the USA surrender its sovereignty? Take a xanax.
i believe we should ask for are Canada-arm back to we can shove it up his rectom and pull till he say’s uncle
Personally , I think , Big Mouth Doug Ford is ultimately responsible for this . He is the premier of ontario . Not the King of Canada .
My 2 bits … Shut the hell up Ford . Damn Fool !
time for canadians to drop google map and apple map products if they bow to trumps insane map changes. there are alternatives.
It’s LAKE ONTARIO.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE IDIOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
Shame on you…gutless. Such an insult to the history of the name.
Trump said “all it takes is a good pen & intelligence”. He uses a marker & no intelligence! He is a 3yr old kid in disguise!! Fat Pig!!
So if trump decides to change the name of one of Canadas town you will just go along with it?
So if trump decides to rename one of canadas towns you will just go along with it?
Sean younge your an idiot😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I wonder if MAGA traitors will put stickers saying Lake America over their Google map screens so they can feel closer to their cult Orange leader?
Right after reading this, I downloaded MapQuest and deleted Google Maps (F.you Google!).
For me, it’s “Lake Ontario” forever.
Look at these liberals deleting apps belief in liberal controlled legacy mainstream propaganda media.
Open google maps to check global trash gouging Chorus entertainment false narrative story. Again like everything these fantasy writers print. Guess what it did not change.
Go vote and think about a great lake that will effect nothing. Just dont think about accomplishments of the Liberal dictatorship.
You will get a headache because you can’t find one single policy that benefits Canadian citizens.
Pants down inserted elbozos.
Is this facking gonna be news for next year, you lefties truly are brain-dead!
Naturally it online information can change depending on your location. Liberals created bill C18 Trump wants it removed. Liberals control all information platforms can give you in Canada. United States has Liberal and conservative news outlets.
Can the pants down elbows inserted tell which one is democratic and which is Marxist, communist style of control.
Liberals accomplishments equal zero, must be elections happening because Liberals and controlled Canadian mainstream propaganda media spewed same narrative for a year when they closed the government keep paying themselves and receiving raises for failure. Sadly Canada best economic time under the liberals was when they took a years paided vacation.
Liberals seem to have to much empty space between their ears. Liberals just blame others accomplish nothing and fools eat it up.
This is ridiculous! When is someone gonna tell the Emporer that hes wearing no clothes! I dont care what he, Google, or anyone else tries to call it, its Lake Ontario. Stop giving your toddler Trump crayons!
I am so disgusted with google for changing Lake Ontario and closed/disabled every app with google name attached to it.
47 can call any place anything he wants. The rest of the world just laughs and keeps on calling it what it always was called.
Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario!
@what a joke. There is no Palestine. The Palestinian state is Jordan.
Our Legion renamed our dumper the trumper.
Phuck google.
New browser!
Time to find alternatives to spineless google
The 8 year olds having their extended TDS tantrum? He wants that as he disrespects you
I live in Canada and I see “Lake America” on Google maps.
I see TDS runs rampant in your household. There is a vaccine for that now.
So Google does it again. Apparently, there is no Palestine either! Goes to show you who actually runs Google. Israel and Trump’s U.S.
For the record, he actually can’t change the name, executive order or not when it comes to a body of water that is international. It requires negotiation of all parties whereas all agree, Congress has to deal with the request as does any foreign government of which the body of water is involved. Once it passes Congress (or they approve it), then a name change can progress. For example, Gulf Of Mexico he couldn’t change. Now if there is no agreement, he can request a name change with Congress on their own section, which for GOM would be the coastline of each state and 12 miles outward. That’s it. Same with Lake Ontario of which the province of Ontario has more of the lake than he does. If he wants to change the name of his smaller half, he goes through Congress, but he can’t change our half as it’s regarded as international. That’s from an American professor related to such laws.