Danielle Smith Says Canadians Are ‘Confused’ by Trump’s Renaming of Lake Ontario

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told American viewers that Canadians are “confused” by President Donald Trump’s move to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.

Speaking on Fox Business Network, Smith said the decision was especially difficult to understand given the countries’ long economic and military relationship. She pointed to Canadian troops serving alongside Americans in Afghanistan and the approaching 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as reminders of those ties. “We don’t understand why the Americans would want Canada to be weaker,” she said.

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Canadians are confused.

The comments came during a sharp trade dispute. The United States imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars in Canadian exports from Aug. 22 after negotiations broke down. Canada said retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods would begin Sept. 8. Smith warned that the confrontation would damage small businesses and destroy jobs on both sides of the border.

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We don’t understand why the Americans would want Canada to be weaker.

Smith also rejected pressure to put Alberta’s oil and gas exports on the negotiating table. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has argued that all options should remain available. Smith continued to call on Trump’s administration and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to settle the disagreement.

“Canadians are really hopeful that we can get back to the table, just talk about the outstanding issues, resolve them. We came very close to a deal,” Smith said. Ontario’s Ford has also appealed directly to U.S. audiences, after exchanging personal insults with Trump while saying he wanted an agreement benefiting people on both sides of the border.

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Canadians are really hopeful that we can get back to the table, just talk about the outstanding issues, resolve them. We came very close to a deal.