Date: August 29, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a large new sign declaring “Lake Ontario” on the shores of the lake in Winona, Ontario, sending a pointed message to U.S. President Donald Trump after the American president announced plans to rename the body of water “Lake America.”
Ford unveiled the sign on Saturday as tensions between Canada and the United States continue to intensify over trade, tariffs and the future of the two countries' economic relationship. In a video posted online, the Ontario premier stood beside the lake and said the body of water had been known as Lake Ontario long before Trump became president and would continue to carry that name long after he leaves office.
“I’m here on the shores of beautiful Lake Ontario, a crown jewel of our province and our country,” Ford said, describing the lake as an important part of Ontario and Canada. He accused Trump of attempting to rename the lake because of his disagreement with Ontario and Canada over the ongoing trade dispute.
Ford said the new sign was intended to make Canada's position unmistakable.
“Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario, and long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario,” Ford said, adding that the sign was being installed “just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets.”
The move follows Trump's decision to direct U.S. government agencies to use the name “Lake America” in official maps and databases. Trump signed an executive order making the change as part of a broader effort to rename the Great Lake from the American perspective.
The decision has been rejected by Canadian political leaders, who have continued to refer to the body of water by its traditional name. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also dismissed Trump's proposed renaming, pointing to the lake's long history and the Indigenous origins of the name Ontario.
The dispute over the lake's name has emerged during a much larger confrontation between Ottawa and Washington. Canada and the United States have been locked in an increasingly bitter trade dispute, with tariffs imposed on Canadian products and retaliatory measures being considered or implemented by the Canadian government.
Ford has become one of Canada's most outspoken provincial leaders in responding to Trump's trade policies. The Ontario premier has repeatedly argued that Canada must stand up to Washington and protect Canadian jobs, businesses and industries from American tariffs.
The new sign therefore carries a message that goes beyond geography. Ford's decision to unveil it publicly in Winona represents a symbolic demonstration of Canadian resistance at a time when relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply.
The location is also significant because Winona sits on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario, near Hamilton. The lake is shared by Canada and the United States and forms part of the Great Lakes system, making it an important geographical and economic feature of the region.
The Trump administration's decision to promote “Lake America” has generated criticism and ridicule in Canada, where the traditional name remains deeply established. Canadian officials have continued using “Lake Ontario” in public statements and government communications.
The disagreement has also become another example of the increasingly personal and symbolic nature of the dispute between Trump and Canadian leaders. What began primarily as a conflict over tariffs and trade has increasingly expanded into disagreements over sovereignty, national identity and Canada's relationship with the United States.
For Ford, the sign provides an opportunity to reinforce his message that Ontario will not be intimidated by Trump's policies. The premier has positioned himself as a strong defender of Ontario's economic interests and has previously threatened stronger measures against the United States if American tariffs continue to damage Canadian industries.
The trade dispute has already created uncertainty for manufacturers, exporters, farmers and businesses on both sides of the border. Ontario is particularly exposed because its economy is deeply integrated with the United States, especially in automotive manufacturing, steel, energy and other industrial sectors.
Ford's latest gesture comes as Canadian and American officials continue to deal with the consequences of the worsening trade relationship. While the lake-name dispute itself has no direct economic impact, it has become a highly visible symbol of the broader political confrontation.
Critics of the sign have questioned whether the Ontario government should spend public resources on a symbolic response to Trump's announcement, arguing that the province should instead focus on healthcare, infrastructure, education and other domestic priorities. Supporters, however, view the gesture as a simple and highly visible expression of Canadian identity at a time when the country is facing pressure from its largest trading partner.
The controversy has also attracted significant attention online, with Canadians debating whether Ford's response represents effective political messaging or unnecessary escalation. Regardless of the differing opinions, the sign has quickly become a visual representation of the ongoing Canada-U.S. dispute.
Trump's proposed name change is not expected to alter how Canadians officially refer to the lake. In Canada, the body of water remains Lake Ontario, and Ford made clear that his government intends to continue using that name.
The premier's message was direct: whatever name the United States chooses to use in its own official documents, Ontario will continue calling the lake by its established Canadian name.
The timing of the unveiling is particularly notable because it comes while the two countries remain engaged in a broader struggle over tariffs and trade. Canadian officials have been seeking ways to reduce the country's economic vulnerability to American policy, while provincial governments have been exploring new markets and measures to strengthen domestic industries.
For Ford, the giant Lake Ontario sign offers a highly visible way of telling both Canadians and Americans that Ontario will not simply accept Washington's decisions without a response.
As the trade dispute continues, the sign is likely to remain a prominent symbol of the political tensions between Canada and the United States. While the disagreement over the lake's name may be largely symbolic, it reflects a much deeper dispute over economic sovereignty, national identity and the future of one of the world's most important bilateral relationships.
For now, on the Canadian shore in Winona, the message is unmistakable: the body of water remains Lake Ontario, and Ontario's government intends to keep calling it that.