Government agencies in the Canadian province of Ontario have begun designating Lake Ontario as “Lake America” on their official maps and websites.
The change appeared on the platforms of Metrolinx, the Toronto-based public transit agency; the Regional Alcohol Production Control Agency (LCBO); and HydroOne, the regional electricity grid operator. According to a representative of Ontario’s provincial Cabinet, government entities receive cartographic data directly from Google and are verifying that the “correct” name is used across all departments.
Google has stated it displays Lake Ontario as “Lake America” exclusively for users in the United States. For Canadian residents, the lake retains its original designation, while users from other countries may see both names simultaneously.
This development follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s August 27 TikTok video, where he personally renamed Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” claiming the geographical feature no longer exists under its former name and urging viewers to adopt the new designation. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed that Lake Ontario will retain its name despite Trump’s decree.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford held a ceremony on August 29 to unveil a sign reading “Lake Ontario: Now and Always,” describing it as an official rebuttal to U.S. actions. Additionally, in January 2025, President Trump previously renamed the Gulf of Mexico to “American.”
