Several Canadian websites, including those for the federal government, showcased maps with Lake Ontario labeled as Lake America on Sunday, following Google Maps’ adjustment to comply with a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump. Google stated in a post on Saturday that it made the alteration because the U.S. government’s geographic names database officially renamed the lake.
While Google mentioned that the change would only impact U.S. users, various Ontario and Canadian sites displayed Lake America on their maps. Examples include Hydro One’s outage map, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) store locator, GO Transit’s station finder, and the federal government’s housing and infrastructure map.
Hydro One acknowledged the error, attributing it to a third-party mapping service. The utility is collaborating with the vendor to swiftly rectify the issue and restore the accurate geographic reference. Metrolinx, the Ontario government agency overseeing GO Transit, stated that they are actively reviewing their websites to ensure Lake Ontario is correctly identified.
Tech analyst Carmi Levy explained that even though Canadian websites like Hydro One and LCBO are local, their maps likely rely on Google’s application programming interface (API), causing the default switch to Lake America. Levy emphasized that using Google’s suggested fix to localize maps by selecting Canada as the region is relatively straightforward, but awareness and comfort levels with making the adjustment may vary among developers.
Despite the temporary confusion, Google Maps still prioritizes location-based results, ensuring that users within Canada see Lake Ontario. However, globally, searches now display both Lake Ontario and Lake America in parentheses. Levy underscored the importance of Canada having its own mapping tools to reduce reliance on foreign technology providers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the name change, emphasizing that Lake Ontario’s historical identity should endure. Ford unveiled a “Lake Ontario Now and Always” sign in Winona to reinforce the lake’s traditional name. The dispute between Trump and Ford escalated, leading to a threat to rename the lake to Lake America.
The tension between the U.S. and Canada intensified following trade disagreements, with both nations implementing retaliatory measures. Despite the political friction, efforts are underway to resume negotiations for a mutually beneficial free-trade agreement. Trump’s executive order to rename Lake Ontario mirrors a past order regarding the Gulf of Mexico, showcasing the complexities of such alterations in online platforms.