Primary Risk

On this episode of Primary Risk, co-hosts Byng Giraud and Allie Meeres take a deep dive into Canada’s evolving approach to major projects. They discuss why new legislation should only be the starting point for change. The conversation also explores the forthcoming federal Major Projects Office, the authority it will need to be truly effective, and the importance of setting clear national goals for major projects to guide investment and decision-making and drive alignment across government.

In this episode of Primary Risk, Sedgwick Strategies’ Byng Giraud and Allie Meeres sit down with the Hon. Jason Kenney to explore how the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) model can be replicated—and why Indigenous equity in major projects is key to building sustainable trade and energy corridors.Hon. Kenney, one of the primary architects behind the AIOC, offers a pragmatic playbook for replication across provinces. This includes financing that empowers Indigenous communities to take equity stakes in high-quality, commercially viable deals. Crucially, the model moves at the pace of business and is shaped by Indigenous leadership.

Facing investor flight, climate events, and shifting politics, a lot can be learned from the TMX expansion project that navigated consistent public scrutiny. Allie Meeres and Byng Giraud sat down with former CEO of Trans Mountain, Ian Anderson, to chat through what helped build Canada’s largest pipeline to tidewater.

Facing investor flight, climate events, and shifting politics, a lot can be learned from the TMX expansion project that navigated consistent public scrutiny. Allie Meeres and Byng Giraud sat down with former CEO of Trans Mountain, Ian Anderson, to chat through what helped build Canada’s largest pipeline to tidewater.

Our newest episode of Primary Risk features Jeff Stibbard, Founder and Executive Chairman of JDS Energy & Mining.

With 40 years of mining experience spanning operations and investment globally, Jeff shares how he builds thriving projects, and the communities that grow alongside them.

In an era dominated by automation, Jeff makes a compelling case for the power of human connection and how it remains the ultimate catalyst for cutting through bureaucratic complexity, attracting investment, and moving projects forward.

In this candid conversation, Co-Hosts Allie Meeres and Byng Giraud sit down with the former Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to unpack:

• Key takeaways from the rapid reconstruction of the Coquihalla Highway
• Today’s challenges facing major infrastructure projects in British Columbia
• Strategies to accelerate projects that boost Canadian economic independence
• What lies ahead for infrastructure and communities in B.C.

Reflecting on the urgency of the Coquihalla crisis, Rob shared: "They were issuing permits that normally take a few weeks in forty-five minutes or less. We did what we had to do—we had to make material, blast rock, and get at the thing as quickly as possible."

Listen now to hear how government can move quickly when it matters most

Kicking off the first episode of 2025 Sedgwick’s Allie Meeres, and Byng Giraud, sat down to discuss the ongoing threat of US tariffs and the top 10 projects B.C. can use to protect our economy. 

Reflecting on the economic and political realities of British Columbia and its economic dependence on the US Byng Giraud notes: “That dependency, not only has it made us vulnerable to the situation today, it's one of the reasons we have low productivity in this country because we live off this 30% discount on our dollar. We've got to get over taking the easy way out here. If we want to be innovative, we need to remember that Japan, Greece and Germany, amongst others, came to this country and said they would like to buy your natural gas, and we told them no.”Read Sedgwick's top 10 list here.

January 31st, Sedgwick Strategies President, Byng Giraud, OBC, and Executive Vice President, Allie Meeres, sat down with Melissa Caouette of Pocket Lobbyist for a critical discussion on what a second Trump presidency could mean for B.C. and Canada. With trade, policy shifts, and economic uncertainty on the horizon, one thing was clear—organizations can’t afford to sit back and wait.

"Get off the couch." That was Byng’s message to businesses and decision-makers who may be tempted to take a wait-and-see approach. The world is moving fast, and those who act early will be in the best position to adapt.

Allie echoed this need for action, reminding us that "We have to get out of our own way. We need to diversify ourselves not only for the next four years but for the rest of our lives." Long-term resilience starts now, and preparation today will define success in the years ahead for Canada.

To stay ahead of the conversation:

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Primary Risk's final episode of the year is now live! 

In the spirit of the holidays, Sedgwick's Byng Giraud and Allie Meeres sat down to share their thoughts on the highs and lows of the year in the space of major projects development, while taking a look forward to see what next year may bring.

Last month, Sedgwick wrapped up our final Primary Risk episode of 2024 with special guest Tessa Gill, External Relations Lead at Arbios Biotech. With decades of experience leading major projects like Petronas Pacific NorthWest LNG and Woodfibre LNG, Tessa shared invaluable insights on navigating the complexities of major project development.