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It's pretty tough to pick up a newspaper in New Brunswick any day of the week and not read something about the opportunities associated with the energy economy. You've heard the numbers "¦ $41 billion in investment"¦ thousands of jobs "¦ and so much more.

It's fine to have these investments take place in our province, but if we do not ensure that the capacities developed in our province are ones that can be redeployed throughout the world, then the transformational growth opportunities associated with the energy economy will be lost. Bob Manning, chairman of Benefits Blueprint and of Enterprise Saint John, will be coming to Fredericton on May 28 to speak at the chamber's annual banquet.

The need to leverage opportunities created by the energy economy is the whole purpose behind a strategic document that was released in Fredericton a few weeks ago by business and government leaders. The Benefits Blueprint focuses on seven key areas that require collective effort and focus, including business and economy; workforce expansion; training and education; arts and culture; housing; infrastructure; and community interests.

The Blueprint's findings have a significant focus on people and how they can contribute to the energy economy. What's clear is that more workers will be needed to advance the energy economy. That means educational institutions and government need to come up with fast, effective and quality programs that will prepare workers for opportunities in the energy economy. That means we need to stop turning away qualified community college applicants and create enough spaces in the system to meet the impending demand.

Not only do we need to increase the number of people being trained, but we need to create a centre of excellence for energy skills. Such a centre will be essential for us to use the knowledge and experience gained from the energy economy so that companies and individuals can apply what they've learned to future business opportunities in Canada and around the world.

Finally, what's most interesting is the prospect that the energy economy may very well act as the tide to raise everyone's boats. With careful, thoughtful and progressive social and economic planning, citizens and communities could benefit in such a way that poverty stricken neighborhoods are given real opportunities to reach higher and go farther.

Business, government and citizens need to gather around this critical economic opportunity and take action.

* * *

Anthony Knight is the general manager of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at Anthonyk@frederictonchamber.ca.