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Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday installed a towering billboard on Canadian shores bearing the message “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.” in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order directing U.S. federal agencies to rename the body of water “Lake America.” Ford, dressed in Team Canada soccer attire, positioned the sign near Grimsby, Ontario, and documented the moment for public consumption.
The structure measures 24 by 12 feet and stands on 6-foot legs, elevating its top approximately 18 feet above ground level. The message appears in both English and French. Ford stated the renaming attempt reflected Trump’s frustration with Canada’s refusal to capitulate on trade and sovereignty matters, asserting that the original designation would persist long after the president’s tenure.
Canadian political figures seized the opportunity to ridicule the directive. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew compared Trump’s efforts to an aging musical act recycling past successes, while Canadian historian Robert Bothwell characterized the situation as evidence of Trump’s broader objective to subordinate Canada or absorb it into the United States.
Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected the order, citing the lake’s Indigenous etymology—derived from the Huron word “oniatarí:io” meaning “lake of shining waters”—and noting the name predates both Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Trump lacks the authority to compel Canada to adopt the new designation.
The dispute emerges amid deteriorating trade relations between the two nations. Negotiations collapsed last week amid accusations of late-stage demands, prompting Canada to announce retaliatory tariffs effective next month. Trump has previously displayed similar gestures, including posting maps depicting Canada as a U.S. state and displaying a “Gulf of America” map at the Resolute Desk.
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