Google updated its Maps platform to display Google updated its Maps platform to display Lake America instead of Lake Ontario for users in the United States.
Key Details of the Decision
- Google’s Policy: Google stated that it follows the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) for official naming conventions in the United States.
- Regional Variation:
- U.S. Users: See “Lake America”.
- Canadian Users: Continue to see “Lake Ontario”.
- International Users (Outside U.S. & Canada): See both names labeled side-by-side.
- Background: President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Interior Department to rename the lake officially within federal databases amid an escalating trade dispute with Canada. A similar updates policy was applied previously when the executive branch ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be referenced as the “Gulf of America” in U.S. federal systems.
Responses to the Change
U.S. State Leadership: New York Governor Kathy Hochul noted that New York State state agencies would continue to refer to the body of water by its original name, Lake Ontario. instead of Lake Ontario for users in the United States.
Canadian Officials: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both rejected the U.S. executive order. Premier Ford unveiled a large lakeside sign stating “Lake Ontario: Now and Always” to emphasize that Canada and the international community do not recognize the U.S. renaming.
Key Details of the Decision
- Google’s Policy: Google stated that it follows the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) for official naming conventions in the United States.
- Regional Variation:
- U.S. Users: See “Lake America”.
- Canadian Users: Continue to see “Lake Ontario”.
- International Users (Outside U.S. & Canada): See both names labeled side-by-side.
- Background: President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Interior Department to rename the lake officially within federal databases amid an escalating trade dispute with Canada. A similar updates policy was applied previously when the executive branch ordered the Gulf of Mexico to be referenced as the “Gulf of America” in U.S. federal systems.
Responses to the Change
- Canadian Officials: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford both rejected the U.S. executive order. Premier Ford unveiled a large lakeside sign stating “Lake Ontario: Now and Always” to emphasize that Canada and the international community do not recognize the U.S. renaming.
- U.S. State Leadership: New York Governor Kathy Hochul noted that New York State state agencies would continue to refer to the body of water by its original name, Lake Ontario.
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