It's finally time to rename Ottawa's Trump Avenue, councillor says

As Donald Trump's trade war against Canada heats up, an Ottawa city councillor says it's finally time to rename a street that bears the U.S. president's name.

2021 effort failed, but Coun. Riley Brockington says it's now 'past the point of debating'

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As Donald Trump's trade war against Canada heats up, an Ottawa city councillor says it's finally time to rename a street that bears the U.S. president's name.

A 2021 effort to rename Trump Avenue in the Central Park neighbourhood off Merivale Road fell through after a consultation found residents were split on the idea.

The nays Ave. it: Ottawa's Trump Avenue to keep its name

But the area's councillor, Riley Brockington, said it's now time to put an end to what he called an embarrassment in light of Trump's repeated threats to Canada's sovereignty and economy.

"I'm embarrassed that there is a street in River Ward called Trump Avenue, and I'm embarrassed that in the nation's capital we have Donald Trump honoured in this respect," he said.

Brockington said he will work with Trump Avenue residents to launch the renaming process after the next election, but he said he's set on seeing it done.

"I think the time has come when you look at the damage and carnage that the president has caused, including with our own country," Brockington said. "We're past the point of debating."

NYC-themed street names

The Central Park neighbourhood has several streets with New York City-themed names such as Staten Way and Grammercy Park.

Brockington's statement came during a debate on a motion from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to support Ottawa businesses affected by the tariffs that the Trump administration imposed on $28 billion of Canadian exports.

Asked about the proposal to rename Trump Avenue, Sutcliffe said it could prove a "hassle" to people who live on the street who would have to change their driver's licence and notify all of their contacts to change their address.

He said those residents still need to be consulted, but he said his own position is clear.

"If it were up to me, there would be nothing named after Donald Trump in Ottawa," Sutcliffe said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arthur White-Crummey is the municipal affairs reporter at CBC Ottawa. He grew up in Ottawa, spent years in Saskatchewan covering the courts, city hall and the provincial legislature, before moving back to his hometown. You can reach him at arthur.white-crummey@cbc.ca