At the heartbeat of the energy sector, Fort McMurray residents weigh in on election issues

Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Alta., Corey Coffey has seen the community go through ups and downs.

From the 2016 wildfire to flooding to economic downturns, the northern Alberta community has persisted.

But the looming threat of U.S. tariffs has him nervous.

"This feels a lot different," said Coffey, who has worked in the oilsands since he was a teenager, 

Coffey, the CEO and owner of GOAT Mechanical Services, a heavy equipment repair company, said it has been a "rollercoaster" as tariff threats loom over the industry. Coffey said 98 per cent of his business is connected to the energy sector.

Plans for an expansion have ground to a halt and there is also a pause on new hiring as a result of the trade war, he said.

"[There's] a lot of uncertainty with respect to the tariffs and respect to elections now being called just recently, which puts again, a lot of uncertainty into the region," said Coffey.

When asked how pivotal this upcoming federal election is, Coffey said it's going to be critical.

"This election is going to be [a] defining moment in the next five to 10 years for Canada. Whoever gets in power and how they portray themselves and how they're able to negotiate with the Trump administration, that is definitely key for us right now," he said.

Coffey wants red tape for the industry to be eliminated and to see firmer project deadlines.

He further wants the major parties to explain how they want to unite Canada and what Alberta's role in that would be.

"Typically, we're like the black dog of the family, the black sheep right? So how do we fit into this national unity right? What are their plans for increasing the access of our resources to the West Coast and the East Coast instead of relying heavily on exports through the U.S.?," Coffey said.

Watch | Fort McMurray residents discuss their tops issues at the ballot box:

He said the environment is important to keep in mind.