Following an American decree, Google updated the name of the lake visible in its applications for users located in the United States. The company explained that it uses data from U.S. Geographic Names Information strategy (GNIS) erstwhile updating. It is simply a national strategy containing harmonised information on the names and location of more than 2 million geographical and cultural objects located in the United States.
In an interview with PAP, Justyna Kacprzak pointed out that in Poland names displayed in Google Maps should not be considered official. According to her, they are not binding on Poland due to the fact that the Committee on Standardisation of Geographical Names outside the borders of Poland has not yet decided on a possible change of the Polish name of Lake Ontario. Kacprzak did not regulation out that the subject could arise at a gathering of the Commission scheduled for September and October. If the Commission yet decides to change the name of the lake, the applicable communication will be published on its website, but at this point the authoritative name in Poland remains Lake Ontario.
Canada outraged
The American decision besides caused confusion on the Canadian side. The fresh name for the lake began to appear on the website of the Ontario provincial administration. The problem was seen, among another things, in LCBO services, the institution liable for the functioning of the monopoly for the sale of alcohol in the province. This organisation is presently not selling alcohol from the United States due to its trade conflict.
Minister Stephen Crawford in charge of this case explained that any websites of the provincial office automatically collect information on maps from Google Maps. Therefore, it began to check these sites to make certain that the lake name is correctly depicted on them as Lake Ontario.
At the same time Google assured that users located in Canada would inactive see the name Lake Ontario. On the another hand, Google users outside the United States and Canada are expected to see both functioning names.
Ontario Forever
The thought of changing the name was definitely rejected by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as early as the day the U.S. decision was announced.
The case was besides addressed by Ontario provincial prime minister Doug Ford. On Saturday, on the shore of the lake, he unveiled a large plaque with an inscription written in English and French saying: Lake Ontario: Now and forever. Ford noted at the same time that the president of the United States could usage any name, but according to him in the remainder of the planet the waters will inactive be known as Lake Ontario.
