Tension mounts in Canada ahead of U.S. federal election [Video]

With the U.S. federal election next Tuesday, tension is mounting even north of the border.

More than 600,000 Americans living in Canada are eligible to vote in next week’s election, and even Canadian citizens have a lot at stake in the outcome.

The race for the presidency of the United States is so tight, Americans living in Canada could make the difference, according to Bruce Heyman, former U.S. ambassador to Canada.

“Canada can’t influence our election, and Canadians shouldn’t be involved in it,” Heyman said, “but Americans living in Canada may actually be the swing factor here.”

Democrats typically have more influence in Canadian ex-pat voting, outnumbering Republicans in Canada by about three to one, but voter turnout could sway that influence.

Typically, Americans in Canada have a very low voter turnout — between six and eight per cent.

However, both Republicans and Democrats are working to change that.

“Our …