Sunday, April 20, 2025

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Irem Koca

Irem Koca is a Turkish-Canadian journalist who joined The Hill Times in late 2023. She got her start in Canadian media in the Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau, covering federal politics and national stories under the paper's year-long fellowship. With a background in broadcast journalism, she spent several years as a world news reporter at CNN Turkey. Her freelance work on Turkish politics has been featured in The New York Times and Reuters. Notable highlights of her career include coverage of the 2020 U.S. presidential elections under a Reporting Tour fellowship awarded by the U.S. State Department, and her coverage of the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan in 2019. Koca holds a master's degree in religious extremism from Queen's University, along with a journalism degree from Istanbul Bilgi University and Kingston University, London. She is fluent in English and Turkish.

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2025
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to overhaul Canada's problem-plagued defence procurement through a new agency that would centralize procurement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2025
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to overhaul Canada's problem-plagued defence procurement through a new agency that would centralize procurement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 16, 2025 | UPDATED April 17, 2025
Sima Acan, the Liberal candidate running in Oakville West, Ont., pictured left with Mark Carney, on April 5 during the prime minister's campaign stop in the city. Photograph courtesy of Sima Acan's office
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 16, 2025 | UPDATED April 17, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 16, 2025 | UPDATED April 17, 2025
Sima Acan, the Liberal candidate running in Oakville West, Ont., pictured left with Mark Carney, on April 5 during the prime minister's campaign stop in the city. Photograph courtesy of Sima Acan's office
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 11, 2025
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's campaigns dropped several candidates during the first part of the election campaign. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 11, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 11, 2025
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's campaigns dropped several candidates during the first part of the election campaign. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 8, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilevre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will all need to fight for new Canadians' votes. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 8, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 8, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilevre, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will all need to fight for new Canadians' votes. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Sam Garcia
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's courting of the labour vote may help him garner the support of 'politically homeless' workers, says former Tory staffer Yaroslav Baran. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's courting of the labour vote may help him garner the support of 'politically homeless' workers, says former Tory staffer Yaroslav Baran. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 31, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Liberal Mark Carney, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose British Columbia seat is in jeopardy as voters move to Liberals, say pollsters. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 31, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 31, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Liberal Mark Carney, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose British Columbia seat is in jeopardy as voters move to Liberals, say pollsters. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2025
Policies to circumvent U.S. threats will be central to the close race between Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, say strategists. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2025
Policies to circumvent U.S. threats will be central to the close race between Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, and Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, say strategists. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 24, 2025
Turkish Canadians rally on Parliament Hill on March 22 in solidarity with protesters in Istanbul ahead of the arrest of Turkish opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu on March 23. The Hill Times photograph by Irem Koca
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 24, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 24, 2025
Turkish Canadians rally on Parliament Hill on March 22 in solidarity with protesters in Istanbul ahead of the arrest of Turkish opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu on March 23. The Hill Times photograph by Irem Koca
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair is tasked with reviewing Canada's multibillion-dollar contract to purchase American fighter jets amid Canada-U.S. tensions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
Bill Blair
Defence Minister Bill Blair is tasked with reviewing Canada's multibillion-dollar contract to purchase American fighter jets amid Canada-U.S. tensions. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2025
Incoming U.S. envoy to Canada Pete Hoekstra tells American Senators “Canada is a sovereign state," while U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with annexation. Global Entrepreneurship Summit photograph by Valerie Kuypers/Flickr
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2025
Incoming U.S. envoy to Canada Pete Hoekstra tells American Senators “Canada is a sovereign state," while U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with annexation. Global Entrepreneurship Summit photograph by Valerie Kuypers/Flickr
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
Bill Blair
The Department of National Defence, led by Minister Bill Blair, signed two major contracts in March to purchase a polar icebreaker and destroyers to replace the Navy's aging fleet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
Bill Blair
The Department of National Defence, led by Minister Bill Blair, signed two major contracts in March to purchase a polar icebreaker and destroyers to replace the Navy's aging fleet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2025
Speaking at a March 5 event, Defence Minister Bill Blair says tariffs present 'opportunities' as well as challenges for Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2025
Speaking at a March 5 event, Defence Minister Bill Blair says tariffs present 'opportunities' as well as challenges for Canada. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos' department—along with Shared Services Canada—handles more than 75 per cent of the value of the federal government’s annual $37-billion in purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos' department—along with Shared Services Canada—handles more than 75 per cent of the value of the federal government’s annual $37-billion in purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 4, 2025
After U.S. President Donald Trump, left, followed through on threatened tariffs on March 4, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced immediate 25-per-cent tariffs on $30-billion worth of American goods. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 4, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 4, 2025
After U.S. President Donald Trump, left, followed through on threatened tariffs on March 4, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced immediate 25-per-cent tariffs on $30-billion worth of American goods. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 17, 2025
Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney, left, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, and Ruby Dhalla . The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Jake Wright, and handouts
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 17, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 17, 2025
Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney, left, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, and Ruby Dhalla . The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade, Jake Wright, and handouts
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 12, 2025
The Council of the Federation, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, centre left, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, centre right, have been in Washington, D.C., since Feb. 11 to push against the American president's tariffs. Photograph courtesy of Premier Danielle Smith's X account
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 12, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 12, 2025
The Council of the Federation, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, centre left, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, centre right, have been in Washington, D.C., since Feb. 11 to push against the American president's tariffs. Photograph courtesy of Premier Danielle Smith's X account
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
Doug Ford, Susan Holt
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt are among those heading to Washington this week for a diplomatic mission. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
Doug Ford, Susan Holt
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, left, and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt are among those heading to Washington this week for a diplomatic mission. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Hill Times illustration by Neena Singhal
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2025
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, left, Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia, and courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Hill Times illustration by Neena Singhal
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
As part of her bid for the Liberal party's helm, former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's plan to tackle potential tariffs from the United States includes procurement bans. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
As part of her bid for the Liberal party's helm, former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's plan to tackle potential tariffs from the United States includes procurement bans. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 29, 2025
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the government’s new immigration plans last October, in an effort to slow down population growth and relieve pressure on the housing market. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 29, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 29, 2025
Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced the government’s new immigration plans last October, in an effort to slow down population growth and relieve pressure on the housing market. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 23, 2025
The federal government spent over $220-million with four firms for consulting in accounting and auditing, management, information technology and telecommunications services in 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 23, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 23, 2025
The federal government spent over $220-million with four firms for consulting in accounting and auditing, management, information technology and telecommunications services in 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2025
Francis Trudel, Treasury Board Secretariat associate chief human resources officer, left; and Alex Benay, Public Services and Procurement Canada associate deputy minister, give an update on the government’s efforts to replace the Phoenix pay system on Jan. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2025
Francis Trudel, Treasury Board Secretariat associate chief human resources officer, left; and Alex Benay, Public Services and Procurement Canada associate deputy minister, give an update on the government’s efforts to replace the Phoenix pay system on Jan. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
Yves Giroux,
On Jan. 16, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux released a report looking into the fiscal cost of hiring external IT contractors. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
Yves Giroux,
On Jan. 16, Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux released a report looking into the fiscal cost of hiring external IT contractors. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 14, 2025
An interpreter at work in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building during a press conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February 2021. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 14, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 14, 2025
An interpreter at work in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building during a press conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in February 2021. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
Last May, Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos addressed the need for stronger oversight and integrity in federal procurement, especially in professional services. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
Last May, Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos addressed the need for stronger oversight and integrity in federal procurement, especially in professional services. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
On Dec. 17, Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, released its 2024 departmental results report which showed a $92-million overall rise in spending from the previous fiscal year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
On Dec. 17, Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, released its 2024 departmental results report which showed a $92-million overall rise in spending from the previous fiscal year. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 13, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan's Feb. 12 report found 'glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices' throughout the ArriveCan development and implementation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 13, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 13, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan's Feb. 12 report found 'glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices' throughout the ArriveCan development and implementation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2024
CBSA President Erin O’Gorman, pictured Jan. 18, 2024, at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2024
CBSA President Erin O’Gorman, pictured Jan. 18, 2024, at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 2, 2024
Procurement ombudsman Alexander Jeglic says that if you can't prove a procurement system is fair, that puts everyone involved in a difficult position. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 2, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 2, 2024
Procurement ombudsman Alexander Jeglic says that if you can't prove a procurement system is fair, that puts everyone involved in a difficult position. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 30, 2024
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos speaks with reporters before the Liberal cabinet meeting in West Block on Oct. 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 30, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 30, 2024
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos speaks with reporters before the Liberal cabinet meeting in West Block on Oct. 24, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 25, 2024
Karen Hogan will release a report on the ArriveCan application next month. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 25, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 25, 2024
Karen Hogan will release a report on the ArriveCan application next month. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 24, 2024
The House Government Operations Committee, chaired by Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, right, pictured with Conservative MP Larry Brock—also a committee member—was voted as the Hill's best committee in The Hill Times' most recent All Politics Poll. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 24, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 24, 2024
The House Government Operations Committee, chaired by Conservative MP Kelly McCauley, right, pictured with Conservative MP Larry Brock—also a committee member—was voted as the Hill's best committee in The Hill Times' most recent All Politics Poll. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
MPs of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in session on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley chairs a House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting on Jan. 17. The group has been studying the government's $54-million COVID-19 ArriveCan tool since October 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
MPs of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in session on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley chairs a House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting on Jan. 17. The group has been studying the government's $54-million COVID-19 ArriveCan tool since October 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 18, 2024
Last year, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the government will implement its planned buyback of firearm models which have been banned since 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 18, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 18, 2024
Last year, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the government will implement its planned buyback of firearm models which have been banned since 2020. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 15, 2024
Public Service Alliance of Canada members block traffic on Laurier Avenue in Ottawa during a Feb. 28, 2019, demonstration marking the third anniversary of the implementation of the Phoenix pay system that has plagued public servants with payroll issues since its inception. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 15, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 15, 2024
Public Service Alliance of Canada members block traffic on Laurier Avenue in Ottawa during a Feb. 28, 2019, demonstration marking the third anniversary of the implementation of the Phoenix pay system that has plagued public servants with payroll issues since its inception. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 1, 2024
‘I am working for the year 4000, knowing full well that I'm not going to be there,’ says Independent Senator Renée Dupuis ahead of her retirement on Jan. 17. Photograph courtesy of the Senate of Canada
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 1, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 1, 2024
‘I am working for the year 4000, knowing full well that I'm not going to be there,’ says Independent Senator Renée Dupuis ahead of her retirement on Jan. 17. Photograph courtesy of the Senate of Canada
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 18, 2023
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett has questioned whether the allegations of misconduct within Sustainable Development Technology Canada are worthy of RCMP investigation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 18, 2023
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 18, 2023
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett has questioned whether the allegations of misconduct within Sustainable Development Technology Canada are worthy of RCMP investigation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 13, 2023
Procurement Ombudsman Alexander Jeglic’s, left, annual report was tabled in the House on Oct. 16 by Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Photograph courtesy of the OPO and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 13, 2023
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 13, 2023
Procurement Ombudsman Alexander Jeglic’s, left, annual report was tabled in the House on Oct. 16 by Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Photograph courtesy of the OPO and The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 8, 2023
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett, left, has called the allegations of misconduct at Sustainable Development Technologies Canada ‘corruption,’ as Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne awaits the results of the latest investigation into the agency’s work. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 8, 2023
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 8, 2023
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett, left, has called the allegations of misconduct at Sustainable Development Technologies Canada ‘corruption,’ as Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne awaits the results of the latest investigation into the agency’s work. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade