‘It is Lake Ontario and it won’t change,’ business owners in Niagara region respond to Trump renaming lake

Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently spent $25,000 to erect a large sign proclaiming "Lake Ontario now and always" in both English and French, just east of Hamilton. The billboard was unveiled over the weekend, following U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order declaring the body of water as "Lake America" during a trade dispute.

Ford stated that while Trump could call it whatever he wanted, the rest of the world would continue to refer to it as Lake Ontario. This symbolic act is part of an escalating exchange between the two leaders, who have been trading insults and personal jabs over Canada walking away from tariff negotiations earlier this year. Critics argue that this strategy may not be helping the ongoing trade negotiations, with Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser suggesting Ford should focus on speaking to Ontarians about his plan to protect them from the trade war's impact.

The Ford government has already expanded its billion-dollar financial support program to assist industries affected by Trump's tariffs, including mechanical equipment, plastic products, beverages, paper and packaging, leather and footwear, beauty and personal care, and furniture producers. However, concerns have been raised about the eligibility criteria for the program, as it requires businesses to have at least $2 million in revenue and 10 employees, potentially excluding small businesses.

NDP Labour Critic Jamie West questioned whether provincial funding comes with guarantees preventing layoffs, citing the example of Sault Ste. Marie's steel plant that received federal and provincial aid but still laid off workers. Despite the criticism, some in the business community, like Ontario Chamber of Commerce CEO Daniel Tisch, appreciate Ford articulating the concerns of the people he leads.