Ortt thinks Lake Ontario name change is a ploy

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WBEN).......Using his usual level-headed approach, State Sen. Robert Ortt said he has his own theory why President Trump is pushing to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.

Ortt feels it is negotiations and leverage tactic that Trump is employing with his trade and tariff talks with Canada.

Trump, late last week, issued an executive order that will rebrand Lake Ontario to Lake America - a move that has set off a political firestorm in both Canada and the U.S.

But, as Ortt points out, there are bodies of water with two names - depending on what country one is standing.

Trump already renamed the Gulf of Mexico into the Gulf of America - although most still refer to it as the Gulf of Mexico.

In Texas, it is the Rio Grande while in Mexico, it is the Rio Bravo.

"It isn't that unusual for a body of water to have two names," Ortt said.

Lake Ontario - one of the five Great Lakes - has been called by that name since tjhe mid 1850s.

The Ontario name comes from Seneca Nation of Indians indigenous roots meaning "beautiful lake."

JC Seneca, Seneca Nation of Indians president, blasted rump for even considering the name change for Lake Ontario.

"His blatant disrespect toward the Seneca people, other Haudenosaunee nations and all all indigenous people is unacceptable," Seneca said. "The President can not asset ownership over our culture or erase it through irresponsible political action."

Even Ortt agrees, in many respects because of its legacy, the Ontario name should be protected.

"I understand all the reactions but the focus should be on a long term trade deal that helps Canada, Ontario, the United States and Western New York," Ortt said.

And, what name is Ortt calling the lake?

"It's hard not to call it Lake Ontario, it's been called that for so long," Ortt said. "But, as a proud American, maybe at some point I may change."