Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Canada Renames Trump Avenue as Lake America Dispute Escalates
Ottawa is a city in Canada with a street named Trump Avenue.
City councillors voted to start changing that street’s name.
The street will keep its old name until residents help choose a new one.
The mayor said the change reflects anger over Donald Trump’s treatment of Canada.
Trump separately ordered US government offices to call Lake Ontario “Lake America.”
That order applies to US federal agencies only.
It cannot force Canada or other countries to use the new name.
Both naming decisions happened while Canada and the United States were arguing over trade and tariffs.
Ottawa City Council unanimously voted to begin renaming Trump Avenue, a residential street in the Central Park neighbourhood.
The street will retain its current name until residents help select a replacement, with the change expected next year.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe linked the decision to President Donald Trump’s increasingly strained relationship with Canada.
Trump ordered US federal agencies to use “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario on maps, documents and geographic databases.
The naming dispute comes amid tariffs, Canadian countermeasures and Trump’s repeated comments about Canada becoming the 51st US state.
- Who
- Ottawa City Council, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, US President Donald Trump, Canada and the United States.
- What
- Ottawa is beginning the process of renaming Trump Avenue, while Trump has ordered US federal agencies to use “Lake America” for Lake Ontario.
- When
- Ottawa City Council voted on Wednesday night; the street-name change is expected to take effect next year, while Trump’s order applies immediately to US federal usage.
- Where
- Trump Avenue is in Ottawa’s Central Park neighbourhood, and the geographic dispute concerns Lake Ontario.
- Why
- The actions come amid worsening Canada-US relations, including tariffs, retaliatory trade measures and Trump’s comments about Canada potentially becoming the 51st US state.
Ottawa’s Response
Washington’s Naming Order
Street and lake names
Ottawa’s Response
Ottawa is beginning to remove Donald Trump’s name from a residential street because the mayor said Trump has demonstrated hostility toward Canada.
Washington’s Naming Order
Trump directed US federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for federal purposes.
Political context
Ottawa’s Response
Ottawa’s decision is presented as a response to increasingly strained Canada-US relations and Trump’s comments about Canada becoming the 51st US state.
Washington’s Naming Order
The US order changes terminology used by federal agencies, but it does not compel Canada, international organizations or other countries to use “Lake America”.
Timing and authority
Ottawa’s Response
The Ottawa street will keep its current name until residents help choose a replacement, with the change expected next year.
Washington’s Naming Order
Trump said the lake’s new name would take effect immediately, but the order’s stated authority is limited to US federal usage.
- Ottawa vote
- Ottawa City Council voted unanimously to begin the renaming process.
- Street location
- Trump Avenue is a residential street in Ottawa’s Central Park neighbourhood.
- Replacement process
- Residents are expected to form a committee to select a new street name.
- Expected timing
- The street-name change is expected to take effect next year.
- US naming order
- Donald Trump directed US federal agencies to use “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario.
- Order’s scope
- The order covers US federal maps, documents and geographic databases but cannot require Canada or other countries to adopt the name.
- Broader dispute
- Canada and the United States are engaged in a trade dispute involving tariffs and countermeasures.