U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” which has sparked controversy among American lawmakers, including members of the House of Representatives. Democratic representatives Tim Kennedy, Joe Morelle, and Debbie Dingell introduced the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act to reverse the name change and prevent future renamings of any Great Lake.
The dispute escalated when Google updated its maps app for American users to reflect the name change, while Trump reportedly urged Apple to do the same on Apple Maps. In contrast, MapQuest publicly announced it would not alter the name. Kennedy, representing an electoral district bordering Canada, discussed the rationale behind reversing the name change in an interview with The Current.
The bill introduced by Kennedy, Morelle, and Dingell aims to revoke the president’s executive order renaming Lake Ontario. Kennedy criticized Trump’s diversionary tactics from pressing economic issues, such as tariffs imposed on Canada. He emphasized the need to hold the administration accountable for its actions and restore order in the government.
Kennedy highlighted the strong historical ties between the U.S. and Canada, stressing the importance of the longstanding trade partnership and cultural interconnectedness. He underlined the economic impact of the relationship, citing examples like the GM plant in Tonawanda and the mutual reliance on cross-border healthcare workers.
Regarding the bill’s prospects in the House, Kennedy acknowledged the challenges of garnering sufficient support, given the slim majority held by Republicans. However, he expressed confidence in the American people’s response to the administration’s policies and predicted a significant Democratic victory in the upcoming midterms to address accountability issues.
