After facing criticism over renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America on Google Maps, Google is now scrambling to make corrections in Canada following uproar from locals. Recently, some Canadians have called out the tech giant over its mislabelling of provincial parks as “state” parks on Google Maps.
In TV interviews and on social media, local residents have lambasted what some have deemed "American oppression" of Canadian culture. Until now, parks like Mount Robson Park, Whaleboat Island Marine Provincial Park, and Pinecone Burke Provincial Park have been incorrectly categorised by Google Maps as "state parks"— an Americanism — despite being officially recognised as “provincial parks” in Canada.
One local called the error an "attack on our Canadian identity" amid simmering tensions between the country and the US. But Google has now said it will change the label after a rise in complaints over the past weekend. The controversy has erupted in the wake of President Donald Trump’s provocative suggestion that Canada should become the USA’s 51st state.
On Monday, Mr Trump announced that sweeping US tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico “will go forward” when a month-long delay on their implementation expires next week. Canada and Mexico have previously threatened to impose their own retaliatory tariffs, threatening the risk of an all-out trade war.
The geopolitical spat has also spilled into sports events, with Canadian fans increasingly booing the US national anthem. Now, it appears this divide has found a microcosm in our digital lives. Recently, Canadian forums and social media have been flooded with posts highlighting Google’s state parks error.
“We understand the concerns this has raised in the context of recent events - and let's be clear, we will never be the 51st state,” she said. Earlier this month, some Google Maps users urged others to spam the platform over its renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America after Mr Trump decreed the name change.
