Doug Ford’s symbolic Lake Ontario sign cost $25k: Premier’s office

Ontario taxpayers shelled out $25,000 to print and erect an oversized “Lake Ontario” billboard just east of Hamilton, the Premier’s Office confirmed, allowing Doug Ford to take a symbolic stand against U.S. President Donald Trump. The sign, which reads Lake Ontario now and always in English and French, was unveiled over the weekend, just days after Trump signed an executive order declaring the body of water as Lake America amid the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. “President Trump can call it whatever he wants, but I can tell you the rest of the world will always call it Lake Ontario,” Ford told reporters after unveiling the sign in Winona, Ont. Ford’s visual response was the latest in an ongoing, and escalating, war of words with Trump that has seen the two politicians trading personal insults over Canada’s decision to walk away from tariff negotiations in late August. Story continues below advertisement While Ford’s Lake Ontario sign has garnered international news coverage, the premier’s political critics are questioning whether his approach – from the insults to a series of interviews on U.S. television networks – is helping the overall negotiations. Get breaking Ottawa news Get breaking Ottawa news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story. BY PROVIDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU HAVE READ AND AGREE TO GLOBAL NEWS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY. “I just think we’re giving President Trump what he wants,” said Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser. “These are serious times; it’s a trade war. You need a plan, you need a strategy. We don’t need to be talking to Americans on American television. If the premier wants to be talking to people, he should be talking to Ontarians about what his plan is to protect Ontarians.” The Ford government already announced a billion-dollar financial support program would be expanded to allow additional industries to apply for “tariff-related working capital challenges,” including help with payroll, lease and utility payments. While the program was initially aimed at the steel, aluminum, auto and copper sectors, additional industries targeted by Trump’s tariffs, including mechanical equipment, plastic products, beverages, paper and packaging, leather and footwear, beauty and personal care, and furniture producers, will be allowed to apply. The program, however, required businesses to have at least $2 million in revenue and 10 employees, which has raised…