Canada rejects Trump's threat to rename Lake Ontario

Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to rename the shared Lake Ontario as "Lake America." The minister declared that Canada will always refer to it by its existing name and expressed pride in its Great Lakes.

"We will always call it Lake Ontario. We are proud of our Great Lakes. We have navigated them for thousands of years. They are part of the foundations of our country and we will defend what we have," Joly stated during a press conference where the Canadian government announced retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.

“

We will always call it Lake Ontario. We are proud of our Great Lakes. We have navigated them for thousands of years. They are part of the foundations of our country and we will defend what we have.

Trump issued the threat via social media, following a public exchange of insults with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Ford had made a vulgar remark towards Trump, who in turn called the premier a "lackey" and compared him unfavorably to his late brother, former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Ford later retorted, calling Trump a "dictator" and "tyrant."

Lake Ontario, the smallest of the North American Great Lakes, borders Ontario province and New York state, forming part of the Canada-U.S. border. Its name originates from an Iroquoian language, with interpretations including "shining water" or "beautiful lake." The lake holds significant economic and strategic importance, receiving water from Lake Erie via the Niagara River and Niagara Falls, and giving rise to the St. Lawrence River, which connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

“

And while all these maneuvers are taking place, we will act with intelligence, we will be strategic and we will respond.