Ottawa city council plans to vote on a proposal to rename Trump Avenue, a street named after U.S. President Donald Trump over two decades ago. River ward Coun. Riley Brockington initiated a notice of motion during Wednesday’s meeting, expressing that Trump’s actions towards Canada do not warrant the recognition. The vote on the motion is expected to take place at the upcoming city council meeting on September 23.
No specific new name has been suggested yet. If the motion is approved, the renaming process is likely to occur next year. Brockington intends to involve residents of Trump Avenue in the Central Park neighborhood in selecting a new name through a public consultation process.
Brockington, a seasoned councillor running unopposed in the upcoming election, considers the current street name an embarrassment and unsuitable for honoring someone in today’s context. He emphasized the need to replace Trump Avenue with a more deserving name.
This move comes in response to Trump’s implementation of tariffs on billions of dollars of Canadian goods and his order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, leading to retaliatory tariffs from Canada. The decision to rename Trump Avenue is also influenced by the community’s sentiments and the evolving relationship between the two countries.
In a 2021 survey, residents were divided on renaming Trump Avenue, but recent developments have shifted opinions. Brockington has received widespread support globally for the renaming initiative and aims to present the new name to the council by the first half of next year.
Following the council meeting, several city councillors expressed strong support for Brockington’s proposal, with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also backing the initiative. Sutcliffe emphasized the importance of consulting Trump Avenue residents in the decision-making process, considering the practical implications of changing official documents and contacts.
Residents are encouraged to engage with their city councillor to voice their opinions before the final vote on the street renaming proposal.
