Google Maps removes ‘State’ label from Canadian parks and government buildings |
Google Maps has begun removing the term “state” from the labels of Canadian provincial parks and government buildings after criticism from Canadians who objected to seeing US-style categorization on locations in Canada.
The move comes in response to complaints that Google Maps had been mislabeling Canadian provincial parks as “state parks,” a term typically associated with the United States. While the label had existed for years, recent political tensions between Canada and the U.S. have amplified public sensitivity to such designations.
US President Donald Trump’s past comments—such as referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau” and suggesting Canada could be America’s 51st state—have fueled concerns over national identity. Many Canadians saw the mislabeling as an unintended yet symbolic erosion of their sovereignty.
A Google spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating that the company is “actively working to update labels” for Canadian parks and government buildings “to avoid confusion.” They clarified that terms like “provincial park” and “state park” were sometimes used interchangeably within Google’s system.
Following the update, Google Maps now categorizes these locations as “government office,” “provincial park,” or simply “park.”
Technology analyst Carmi Levy criticized Google for not anticipating the issue, noting that the company had failed to account for regional distinctions in its mapping system.
“As an American tech company, they wrongly assumed that there is no palpable difference between ‘provincial park’ and ‘state park,’” Levy told CTV News. “They also failed to appreciate that such mislabeling could offend Canadian sensibilities.”
Google is not the only company that has faced scrutiny over geographical labels. Tripadvisor and Bing Maps, operated by Microsoft, have also been found to use the term “state park” for Canadian locations. Neither company has responded to requests for comment. Apple Maps, however, correctly labels these sites as “provincial parks.”
In a separate controversy, Google recently changed the label for the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America for users in the United States, following a renaming push by President Trump. Mexican users still see the traditional name, while those in other countries see both.
Debate over digital sovereignty
Richard Lachman, a media studies professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, sees the controversy as part of a broader debate on how digital platforms shape political discourse.
“This seems like a clash between software engineering and a growing awareness of the politics of our digital lives,” Lachman said. “It’s not that Canada was deliberately ignored—it’s that these differences weren’t seen as important enough for U.S.-based companies to address before.”
For many Canadians, however, the issue is more than just a technical oversight. Google Maps user Rachel Deren called it an “attack on our Canadian identity,” adding, “We are proud to be Canadian and will remain so despite attempts like this from our increasingly hostile neighbours to the south.”
As digital platforms play an increasing role in shaping national narratives, companies like Google face growing pressure to ensure accuracy in their representations of geography, culture, and sovereignty.
