Google Maps has been updated to show “Lake America” for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s executive order this week to rename the Great Lake.
For users in Canada, it will still be labeled as Lake Ontario on Google Maps, but if users search for that name, they may see results showing Lake America.
Interestingly, several Canadian websites and apps, such as Hydro One, LCBO, and GO Transit, are also showing “Lake America” in their map images. This is likely because they use third-party mapping services based in the United States.
“We are aware that Lake Ontario is being incorrectly labeled on our outage map,” Hydro One stated in a post online on Sunday. “The issue originates from a third-party mapping service. We are working with our vendor to correct the issue as quickly as possible and restore the proper geographic reference. We regret the error and apologize for any confusion it has caused.”
Image showing the store location function on the LCBO website displaying Lake America. LCBO
Stephen Crawford, who is the Ford government’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, acknowledged that some government agency websites pull map data directly from Google Maps.
“Following recent changes by Google, we’re actively reviewing our websites to make sure they all identify Lake Ontario by its correct name: Lake Ontario,” he said in an online statement.
The issue seemed to be resolved by 10 p. m. Sunday.
The search giant explained in a post dated August 29 that it made this change because of a formal renaming of the lake in the U. S. government’s geographic names database; users outside Canada and the U. S. will see both names.
“It’s official! LAKE AMERICA on Google Maps,” White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on social media platform X on Sunday.
Diving into ABC’s “This Week” program on Sunday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford mentioned that he doesn’t think this name change will last despite Trump signing his executive order on Thursday.
“It was like something out of ‘Saturday Night Live’ when (Trump) signed a document saying change it to Lake America,” Ford remarked.
“No one’s going to call it Lake of America. It’s been Lake Ontario for hundreds of years. It’s going to continue being Lake Ontario.”
This past Saturday, Ford unveiled a large sign in Winona-a small lakeside community within Hamilton-saying “Lake Ontario, now and always.”
Also on Saturday, Trump shared an AI-generated video where he replaces a sign reading “Lake Ontario” with one saying “Welcome to Lake America,” followed by dancing to the YMCA song by The Village People.
Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted to Trump’s attempt at renaming the lake via social media Thursday saying Canadians know that Lake Ontario will always keep its original name-“then, now and always.”
Lake Ontario is one of five Great Lakes situated between Ontario and New York; notably, Canada’s province is named after this lake.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded after Trump signed his order stating New York won’t adopt that name either.
Tensions have risen between both countries since trade negotiations fell apart around August 21st.
Both nations have accused each other of making last-minute changes to an interim trade deal proposal.
This Tuesday saw Canada announce over $27 billion in retaliatory measures set to start September 8th against new U. S tariffs.
The idea of renaming this body of water first surfaced during escalating verbal exchanges between Trump and Ford’s administration over issues affecting both parties’ relations.
A heated exchange occurred when Ford called Trump a bully while he countered saying Ford was less charismatic than his late brother Rob Ford along with other remarks about intelligence levels among them both during their discussions initiated August 24th.
“Things got heated,” according Premier Doug referring back toward those earlier conversations adding how eventually you’ve got stand firm against someone continuously attacking or insulting our country.”
“It’s regrettable he stooped down but I did too that day,” added him expressing desire for returning focus toward mutually beneficial free-trade agreements moving ahead instead related disputes lingering.”
A former executive order issued previously allowed similar adjustments regarding Gulf naming conventions shifting Gulf Mexico unto Gulf named likewise following same pattern previously noted throughout history leading up until present moment taking place today here across North American continent!Source link
Source link
