Amid escalating trade tensions between Donald Trump and Canada, an Ottawa city council member is advocating for the renaming of a street bearing the U.S. president’s name. Previous attempts in 2021 to rename Trump Avenue in the Central Park neighborhood were inconclusive due to divided opinions among residents.
Councillor Riley Brockington now deems it imperative to rectify what he perceives as an embarrassment, citing Trump’s actions that have impacted Canada’s sovereignty and economy. Brockington expressed discomfort over the existence of Trump Avenue in River Ward and emphasized the need for a change.
Planning to initiate the renaming process post the upcoming election, Brockington is determined to see the renaming through, emphasizing the need to move forward given the challenges and repercussions caused by the president’s policies.
The Central Park neighborhood features streets with New York City-themed names like Staten Way and Grammercy Park. Brockington’s call for change coincided with a discussion on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s proposal to aid Ottawa businesses affected by tariffs on Canadian exports imposed by the Trump administration.
While Sutcliffe acknowledged the potential inconvenience to Trump Avenue residents in changing personal documents and notifications, he firmly stated his opposition to any homage to Donald Trump in Ottawa. Several Trump Avenue residents echoed the sentiment, asserting that it was time for the street’s name to be altered.
Residents like Rana Usman and John Germano voiced their support for the renaming, emphasizing Trump’s strained relationship with Canada and underscoring the unsuitability of honoring him with a street name in the capital. However, not all residents concurred; Doug Gimmer defended the name ‘Trump’ as part of the area’s New York theme, suggesting alternative priorities for Brockington’s attention.