U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” sparking controversy and opposition from some Americans, 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 renaming of any Great Lake.
The renaming issue gained further attention when Google updated its maps to display Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for American users, while Trump reportedly urged Apple to make a similar change on Apple Maps. In response, MapQuest announced it would retain the original name.
Kennedy, representing a district bordering Canada, expressed concerns about the name change and its implications. He emphasized the need to focus on critical issues like economic challenges rather than distracting actions like renaming geographical features.
Highlighting the strong historical ties between the U.S. and Canada, Kennedy emphasized the importance of the relationship and the significant economic and cultural connections between the two countries. He stressed the unity and mutual support shared by American and Canadian citizens, pointing out examples of collaboration and shared traditions.
Regarding the legislative process, Kennedy acknowledged the slim majority held by Republicans in the House but remained optimistic about garnering bipartisan support for the bill. He referenced past bipartisan efforts to challenge the president’s policies and expressed confidence in the upcoming midterm elections to bring about change and accountability in the government.