In the midst of escalating trade tensions between Donald Trump and Canada, an Ottawa city councilor is advocating for a renaming of a street bearing the U.S. president’s name. Despite a failed attempt in 2021 to rename Trump Avenue in the Central Park neighborhood following a divided resident opinion, Councilor Riley Brockington is now pushing for a change due to Trump’s perceived threats to Canada’s sovereignty and economy.
Expressing embarrassment over having a street honoring Trump in Ottawa, Brockington is determined to collaborate with Trump Avenue residents to kickstart the renaming process post the upcoming election. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the alleged damage caused by the president, noting that debates on the matter are no longer relevant.
The Central Park neighborhood boasts streets with New York City-themed names like Staten Way and Grammercy Park. Brockington’s call for renaming Trump Avenue coincided with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s proposal to assist Ottawa businesses impacted by Trump’s tariffs on Canadian exports. Sutcliffe acknowledged the potential inconvenience to residents in changing personal documents if the street name were to be altered but reiterated his opposition to any Trump-related names in Ottawa.
Residents of Trump Avenue echoed the sentiment that the time is ripe for a name change, citing Trump’s strained relations with Canada as a reason to distance the street from his name. While some residents were in favor of the renaming, others like Doug Gimmer highlighted the street’s alignment with the New York theme of the area and suggested focusing on alternative community issues.
Overall, the movement to rename Trump Avenue in Ottawa is gaining momentum, driven by concerns over the street’s association with a controversial figure in light of ongoing trade disputes between the U.S. and Canada.