U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” sparking controversy among Americans, including some members of the House of Representatives. In response, Democratic representatives from New York and Michigan introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to reverse the name change and prevent any future renaming of Great Lakes.
The renaming issue gained attention when Google updated its maps to show Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for U.S. users. Trump also reportedly urged Apple to make a similar change on Apple Maps, while MapQuest announced it would not alter the name.
Representative Kennedy, who represents an electoral district bordering Canada, expressed concerns about the name change during an interview with The Current. He criticized the executive order as a distraction from more critical issues, such as economic policies and international relations.
Kennedy emphasized the strong historical and cultural ties between the U.S. and Canada, highlighting the importance of the trade partnership and cross-border collaborations. He stressed the need to preserve the relationship with Canada and vowed to challenge any actions that could strain it.
Regarding the proposed legislation to reverse the name change, Kennedy acknowledged the slim majority of Republicans in the House but expressed optimism about garnering bipartisan support. He cited previous bipartisan efforts to address contentious issues and expressed confidence in the American people’s response in the upcoming elections.
As the debate over Lake Ontario’s name continues, the focus remains on preserving the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.