Americans living in Simcoe County react to U.S. election

As Americans head to the polls to cast their ballots on Tuesday for the next president of the United States, across the border, Americans working and living in Simcoe County are watching closely.

“It's a huge, huge issue and a huge deal for me and my family,” said Kevin Gangloff, who is an American living in Orillia, Ontario.

Gangloff moved from the U.S. to Canada in 2003, and while he's far from home, he says it was important for him to cast his ballot in the U.S. election.

“I have never given up my U.S. citizenship. And I have never missed a vote since I've lived in Canada,” said Gangloff.

• LIVE U.S. ELECTION RESULTS | Canadian perspectives and analysis

And Canadians are showing their support for their American neighbours. At the Flag Store in Barrie, staff are hard at work producing hundreds of American flags, along with what they call a friendship flag.

“Our customers often go down to the states for the summer or winter and want to fly it at their house or in their car and it's just a sign of, we feel together, you know, we're with them, for many reasons,” said Cecilia Burke, the store’s owner.

That partnership is also evident through business and trade.

On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford commented on the upcoming election and its impact on Canada, stating, “Canada must remain aligned with U.S. trade policy, like we did by matching American tariffs on Chinese imports of electric vehicles and steel.

Similarly, I continue to urge the federal government to delay the implantation of the digital services tax, which is putting Canadian jobs at risk. Regardless of the outcome of this week's elections, we stand ready to work with our partners south of the border.”

Statements that many of those who do business down south agree with.

Michael Lalonde is president of Innovative Automation and said his company has put projects on pause with American customers as they wait for the election results.

“It's the longest border, shared with the largest market in the world, the third most, populated country in the world. It's a massive market. It's Canada's exports. There are 75 per cent of our exports go to that market so it is, we absolutely need to reinforce that relationship.”