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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.

Conservatives target labour vote as NDP support wanes, but union leader says there’s ‘no substance’ behind catchy slogans

  • 'You might see Poilievre going around to shop floors, but has he ever been on a picket line?' asks NDP national director Anne McGrath.
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025 | UPDATED April 5, 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

Conservatives target labour vote as NDP support wanes, but union leader says there’s ‘no substance’ behind catchy slogans

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025 | UPDATED April 5, 2025
  • 'You might see Poilievre going around to shop floors, but has he ever been on a picket line?' asks NDP national director Anne McGrath.

Conservatives target labour vote as NDP support wanes, but union leader says there’s ‘no substance’ behind catchy slogans

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2025 | UPDATED April 5, 2025
  • 'You might see Poilievre going around to shop floors, but has he ever been on a picket line?' asks NDP national director Anne McGrath.
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

Singh the party leader in ‘most danger’ of losing his seat, pollsters say, as NDP suffers national drop in support

  • In an election defined by change, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is at risk of losing his seat as progressive votes drift toward his Liberal
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

Singh the party leader in ‘most danger’ of losing his seat, pollsters say, as NDP suffers national drop in support

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 31, 2025
  • In an election defined by change, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is at risk of losing his seat as progressive votes drift toward his Liberal

Singh the party leader in ‘most danger’ of losing his seat, pollsters say, as NDP suffers national drop in support

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 31, 2025
  • In an election defined by change, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is at risk of losing his seat as progressive votes drift toward his Liberal
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

Poilievre needs to ‘put some new material in the window’ as polls narrow and Carney gains ground, say strategists

  • Running a campaign focused on Liberals failings and likening Mark Carney to former prime minister Justin Trudeau is 'probably not enough' says Conservative strategist
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

Poilievre needs to ‘put some new material in the window’ as polls narrow and Carney gains ground, say strategists

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2025
  • Running a campaign focused on Liberals failings and likening Mark Carney to former prime minister Justin Trudeau is 'probably not enough' says Conservative strategist

Poilievre needs to ‘put some new material in the window’ as polls narrow and Carney gains ground, say strategists

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2025
  • Running a campaign focused on Liberals failings and likening Mark Carney to former prime minister Justin Trudeau is 'probably not enough' says Conservative strategist
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

‘Canada is cold but Turks on fire’: Turkish Canadians call on Ottawa to condemn the arrest of country’s opposition leader

  • Canada's response to political turmoil in Turkey will be a key factor in shaping the voting decisions for members of diaspora, says a community
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

‘Canada is cold but Turks on fire’: Turkish Canadians call on Ottawa to condemn the arrest of country’s opposition leader

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 24, 2025
  • Canada's response to political turmoil in Turkey will be a key factor in shaping the voting decisions for members of diaspora, says a community

‘Canada is cold but Turks on fire’: Turkish Canadians call on Ottawa to condemn the arrest of country’s opposition leader

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 24, 2025
  • Canada's response to political turmoil in Turkey will be a key factor in shaping the voting decisions for members of diaspora, says a community
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

Cancelling the F-35 deal would be ‘cutting our nose off to spite our face,’ says former senior military official

  • A former chief of the defence staff says 'the ramifications of cancelling the F-35 purchase threatens to hurt Canada more than it would hurt
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
Bill Blair
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

Cancelling the F-35 deal would be ‘cutting our nose off to spite our face,’ says former senior military official

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
  • A former chief of the defence staff says 'the ramifications of cancelling the F-35 purchase threatens to hurt Canada more than it would hurt

Cancelling the F-35 deal would be ‘cutting our nose off to spite our face,’ says former senior military official

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 19, 2025
  • A former chief of the defence staff says 'the ramifications of cancelling the F-35 purchase threatens to hurt Canada more than it would hurt
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

Trump’s pick for top diplomat in Ottawa ‘may be in trouble’ after Senate hearing, says former Canadian diplomat

  • Incoming U.S. envoy Pete Hoekstra will need to restore the trust between the two countries when 'his boss seems quite happy to hit Canada
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

Trump’s pick for top diplomat in Ottawa ‘may be in trouble’ after Senate hearing, says former Canadian diplomat

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2025
  • Incoming U.S. envoy Pete Hoekstra will need to restore the trust between the two countries when 'his boss seems quite happy to hit Canada

Trump’s pick for top diplomat in Ottawa ‘may be in trouble’ after Senate hearing, says former Canadian diplomat

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2025
  • Incoming U.S. envoy Pete Hoekstra will need to restore the trust between the two countries when 'his boss seems quite happy to hit Canada
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

U.S. pressure ‘lighting a fire’ under Ottawa to get major defence procurement projects moving, says expert, as trade war escalates

  • Amid the tariff tiff with the U.S., 'there’s a sudden realization that...Canada may actually be on its own,' which may be speeding things up,
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
Bill Blair
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

U.S. pressure ‘lighting a fire’ under Ottawa to get major defence procurement projects moving, says expert, as trade war escalates

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
  • Amid the tariff tiff with the U.S., 'there’s a sudden realization that...Canada may actually be on its own,' which may be speeding things up,

U.S. pressure ‘lighting a fire’ under Ottawa to get major defence procurement projects moving, says expert, as trade war escalates

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2025
  • Amid the tariff tiff with the U.S., 'there’s a sudden realization that...Canada may actually be on its own,' which may be speeding things up,
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

Canada must ‘open our doors’ to other markets, diversify military procurement supply chains amid tariffs, says Minister Blair

  • Defence Minister Bill Blair says the U.S. tariffs 'create a different business environment' for defence procurement, so Canada must 'open our doors' to other
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

Canada must ‘open our doors’ to other markets, diversify military procurement supply chains amid tariffs, says Minister Blair

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2025
  • Defence Minister Bill Blair says the U.S. tariffs 'create a different business environment' for defence procurement, so Canada must 'open our doors' to other

Canada must ‘open our doors’ to other markets, diversify military procurement supply chains amid tariffs, says Minister Blair

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2025
  • Defence Minister Bill Blair says the U.S. tariffs 'create a different business environment' for defence procurement, so Canada must 'open our doors' to other
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

U.S. companies earned over $3.5-billion in Canadian government contracts since 2023: data

  • As U.S. tariffs take hold, it is worth the effort looking for domestic suppliers rather than the big American companies, says Bloc MP Julie
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
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

U.S. companies earned over $3.5-billion in Canadian government contracts since 2023: data

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. tariffs take hold, it is worth the effort looking for domestic suppliers rather than the big American companies, says Bloc MP Julie

U.S. companies earned over $3.5-billion in Canadian government contracts since 2023: data

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2025
  • As U.S. tariffs take hold, it is worth the effort looking for domestic suppliers rather than the big American companies, says Bloc MP Julie
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

U.S. has to ‘feel the pain’ from Canada’s counter-tariffs but it will take time, warns trade expert

  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Donald Trump's tariffs 'a very dumb thing to do,' when announcing Canada's response to the U.S. president's 'illegal' March
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

U.S. has to ‘feel the pain’ from Canada’s counter-tariffs but it will take time, warns trade expert

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 4, 2025
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Donald Trump's tariffs 'a very dumb thing to do,' when announcing Canada's response to the U.S. president's 'illegal' March

U.S. has to ‘feel the pain’ from Canada’s counter-tariffs but it will take time, warns trade expert

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 4, 2025
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Donald Trump's tariffs 'a very dumb thing to do,' when announcing Canada's response to the U.S. president's 'illegal' March
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

Liberal candidates’ procurement pitches fail to address the long-standing issues, say observers

  • Some of the proposals 'sound more like slogans' that don't point to 'some sort of specific program,' says procurement expert Richard Shimooka.
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

Liberal candidates’ procurement pitches fail to address the long-standing issues, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 17, 2025
  • Some of the proposals 'sound more like slogans' that don't point to 'some sort of specific program,' says procurement expert Richard Shimooka.

Liberal candidates’ procurement pitches fail to address the long-standing issues, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 17, 2025
  • Some of the proposals 'sound more like slogans' that don't point to 'some sort of specific program,' says procurement expert Richard Shimooka.
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

‘Retaliation is only the beginning’: Poilievre pledges strong action against Trump’s tariffs in campaign-style rally in Ottawa

  • In an hour-and-a-half-long speech, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to fight back hard against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but also signalled a willingness
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Retaliation is only the beginning’: Poilievre pledges strong action against Trump’s tariffs in campaign-style rally in Ottawa

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
  • In an hour-and-a-half-long speech, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to fight back hard against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but also signalled a willingness

‘Retaliation is only the beginning’: Poilievre pledges strong action against Trump’s tariffs in campaign-style rally in Ottawa

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 15, 2025
  • In an hour-and-a-half-long speech, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to fight back hard against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but also signalled a willingness
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, pictured at 'Canada First' rally in Ottawa on Feb. 15, 2025. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Premiers send ‘strong message’ in D.C., but defusing Trump’s tariff bomb a big hurdle, say observers

  • Canada's premiers made their way to the White House for a meeting with senior advisers to the U.S. president on Feb. 12.
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

Premiers send ‘strong message’ in D.C., but defusing Trump’s tariff bomb a big hurdle, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 12, 2025
  • Canada's premiers made their way to the White House for a meeting with senior advisers to the U.S. president on Feb. 12.

Premiers send ‘strong message’ in D.C., but defusing Trump’s tariff bomb a big hurdle, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 12, 2025
  • Canada's premiers made their way to the White House for a meeting with senior advisers to the U.S. president on Feb. 12.
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

Hearts and minds: premiers’ mission won’t change Trump’s tack, but can still help Canada, say politicos

  • Economic measures like procurement bans and retaliatory tariffs can be used against the U.S., but a non-threatening approach would better resonate with Americans, says
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
Doug Ford, Susan Holt
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

Hearts and minds: premiers’ mission won’t change Trump’s tack, but can still help Canada, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
  • Economic measures like procurement bans and retaliatory tariffs can be used against the U.S., but a non-threatening approach would better resonate with Americans, says

Hearts and minds: premiers’ mission won’t change Trump’s tack, but can still help Canada, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 10, 2025
  • Economic measures like procurement bans and retaliatory tariffs can be used against the U.S., but a non-threatening approach would better resonate with Americans, says
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

Prolonged Trump-triggered surge in Canadian patriotism may move electoral needle, say pollsters

  • Whether this is a fleeting moment or the beginning of a wave of Canadian nationalism—something on which federal politicians or parties could capitalize—depends on
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

Prolonged Trump-triggered surge in Canadian patriotism may move electoral needle, say pollsters

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2025
  • Whether this is a fleeting moment or the beginning of a wave of Canadian nationalism—something on which federal politicians or parties could capitalize—depends on

Prolonged Trump-triggered surge in Canadian patriotism may move electoral needle, say pollsters

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2025
  • Whether this is a fleeting moment or the beginning of a wave of Canadian nationalism—something on which federal politicians or parties could capitalize—depends on
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

Freeland’s proposed U.S. bid ban is ‘extreme’ and ‘unrealistic,’ could hurt Canada, say observers

  • With U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods looming, Grit leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland suggests banning American firms from federal contracts, and blocking them from all
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
Chrystia Freeland
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

Freeland’s proposed U.S. bid ban is ‘extreme’ and ‘unrealistic,’ could hurt Canada, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
  • With U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods looming, Grit leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland suggests banning American firms from federal contracts, and blocking them from all

Freeland’s proposed U.S. bid ban is ‘extreme’ and ‘unrealistic,’ could hurt Canada, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 31, 2025
  • With U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods looming, Grit leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland suggests banning American firms from federal contracts, and blocking them from all
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

Canada’s ‘short-sighted’ immigration cuts will hurt the economy, say critics

  • 'It was really was a political calculus, by the Liberals to scapegoat newcomers, for their failures in their policies,' says NDP MP Jenny Kwan.
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

Canada’s ‘short-sighted’ immigration cuts will hurt the economy, say critics

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 29, 2025
  • 'It was really was a political calculus, by the Liberals to scapegoat newcomers, for their failures in their policies,' says NDP MP Jenny Kwan.

Canada’s ‘short-sighted’ immigration cuts will hurt the economy, say critics

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 29, 2025
  • 'It was really was a political calculus, by the Liberals to scapegoat newcomers, for their failures in their policies,' says NDP MP Jenny Kwan.
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

‘Big Four’ consultants raked in over $220-million in federal contracts last year, despite plans to cut spending 

  • Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux says 2024 spending on consultants seems ‘a bit high’ given the feds' commitment to curbing its reliance on external
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

‘Big Four’ consultants raked in over $220-million in federal contracts last year, despite plans to cut spending 

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 23, 2025
  • Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux says 2024 spending on consultants seems ‘a bit high’ given the feds' commitment to curbing its reliance on external

‘Big Four’ consultants raked in over $220-million in federal contracts last year, despite plans to cut spending 

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 23, 2025
  • Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux says 2024 spending on consultants seems ‘a bit high’ given the feds' commitment to curbing its reliance on external
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

Feds eye March decision on replacing problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system

  • The government could replace the Phoenix payroll system in 2026-27, with officials deciding by March whether to greenlight the new Dayforce system depending on
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

Feds eye March decision on replacing problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2025
  • The government could replace the Phoenix payroll system in 2026-27, with officials deciding by March whether to greenlight the new Dayforce system depending on

Feds eye March decision on replacing problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2025
  • The government could replace the Phoenix payroll system in 2026-27, with officials deciding by March whether to greenlight the new Dayforce system depending on
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

Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

  • Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with more than half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
Yves Giroux,
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

Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
  • Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with more than half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.

Hiring IT contractors cost feds 22 per cent more than using public servants, PBO finds

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 16, 2025
  • Federal departments spent $2.66-billion on informatics services, including IT-related services, with more than half of the spending coming from five departments in 2022-23.
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

Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’

  • Ombud's review of complaints says proposed changes would cut freelance interpreters' number of billable hours, leading to less compensation for the same amount of
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

Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 14, 2025
  • Ombud's review of complaints says proposed changes would cut freelance interpreters' number of billable hours, leading to less compensation for the same amount of

Procurement watchdog calls PSPC’s handling of interpreters’ contracts ‘unreasonable’

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 14, 2025
  • Ombud's review of complaints says proposed changes would cut freelance interpreters' number of billable hours, leading to less compensation for the same amount of
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

Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year

  • The federal government spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year, despite calls to cut back on spending, criticism over its reliance
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
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

Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
  • The federal government spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year, despite calls to cut back on spending, criticism over its reliance

Feds spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 11, 2025
  • The federal government spent a record $20.7-billion on outsourcing contracts last fiscal year, despite calls to cut back on spending, criticism over its reliance
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

Procurement Canada spent $5.4-billion in 2023-24, but plans to shrink workforce in coming years

  • The department forecasts staffing will keep growing in the current year before declining by thousands of full-time equivalent roles in 2025-26.
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
Jean-Yves Duclos
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

Procurement Canada spent $5.4-billion in 2023-24, but plans to shrink workforce in coming years

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
  • The department forecasts staffing will keep growing in the current year before declining by thousands of full-time equivalent roles in 2025-26.

Procurement Canada spent $5.4-billion in 2023-24, but plans to shrink workforce in coming years

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 4, 2025
  • The department forecasts staffing will keep growing in the current year before declining by thousands of full-time equivalent roles in 2025-26.
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

AFN national chief urges politicians to ‘put their politics aside’ to support First Nations’ access to clean water

  • In a wide-ranging interview, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urges cross-party support to resolve critical issues facing First Nations communities, including police-related deaths,
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 26, 2024
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak
Regardless of what's happening in the House of Commons, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says she'll keep 'pushing and pulling' to ensure First Nations are a priority for politicians. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

AFN national chief urges politicians to ‘put their politics aside’ to support First Nations’ access to clean water

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 26, 2024
  • In a wide-ranging interview, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urges cross-party support to resolve critical issues facing First Nations communities, including police-related deaths,

AFN national chief urges politicians to ‘put their politics aside’ to support First Nations’ access to clean water

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 26, 2024
  • In a wide-ranging interview, AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak urges cross-party support to resolve critical issues facing First Nations communities, including police-related deaths,
Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak
Regardless of what's happening in the House of Commons, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says she'll keep 'pushing and pulling' to ensure First Nations are a priority for politicians. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Federal departments fix 61 errors related to Indigenous business contracts on public database

  • The RCMP has corrected the status of two firms as non-Indigenous at Indigenous Services Canada's direction. But one of those companies remains on the
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 19, 2024
Patty Hajdu
Patty Hajdu
Indigenous Services Canada, under Minister Patty Hajdu, removed over 1,200 businesses from the Indigenous Business Directory since 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Federal departments fix 61 errors related to Indigenous business contracts on public database

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 19, 2024
  • The RCMP has corrected the status of two firms as non-Indigenous at Indigenous Services Canada's direction. But one of those companies remains on the

Federal departments fix 61 errors related to Indigenous business contracts on public database

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 19, 2024
  • The RCMP has corrected the status of two firms as non-Indigenous at Indigenous Services Canada's direction. But one of those companies remains on the
Patty Hajdu
Indigenous Services Canada, under Minister Patty Hajdu, removed over 1,200 businesses from the Indigenous Business Directory since 2022. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

PM Trudeau appears to have reached a decision about his future, but he’s not yet prepared to announce it, say some Liberal MPs

  • Unlike the Oct. 23 national Liberal caucus meeting, on Dec. 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘absorbed the message’ from MPs that it’s time to
News | BY ABBAS RANA, IREM KOCA, SOPHALL DUCH | December 16, 2024
Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the Laurier Club event at the Museum of History on Dec. 16, 2024. More MPs are calling for Trudeau to resign as Liberal Party leader after Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

PM Trudeau appears to have reached a decision about his future, but he’s not yet prepared to announce it, say some Liberal MPs

News | BY ABBAS RANA, IREM KOCA, SOPHALL DUCH | December 16, 2024
  • Unlike the Oct. 23 national Liberal caucus meeting, on Dec. 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘absorbed the message’ from MPs that it’s time to

PM Trudeau appears to have reached a decision about his future, but he’s not yet prepared to announce it, say some Liberal MPs

News | BY ABBAS RANA, IREM KOCA, SOPHALL DUCH | December 16, 2024
  • Unlike the Oct. 23 national Liberal caucus meeting, on Dec. 16, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘absorbed the message’ from MPs that it’s time to
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the Laurier Club event at the Museum of History on Dec. 16, 2024. More MPs are calling for Trudeau to resign as Liberal Party leader after Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet on Dec. 16. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Former Indigenous procurement auditor calls pledge to examine the program ‘hypocritical’ after feds were warned of issues for years

  • Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says her department is working on a plan to conduct an extensive audit of the government's Indigenous procurement program.
News | BY IREM KOCA | December 10, 2024
Garry Hartle, a senior compliance auditor, says the 'absence of external audits will result in a lack of oversight to detect and deter public corruption.' Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Former Indigenous procurement auditor calls pledge to examine the program ‘hypocritical’ after feds were warned of issues for years

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 10, 2024
  • Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says her department is working on a plan to conduct an extensive audit of the government's Indigenous procurement program.

Former Indigenous procurement auditor calls pledge to examine the program ‘hypocritical’ after feds were warned of issues for years

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 10, 2024
  • Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu says her department is working on a plan to conduct an extensive audit of the government's Indigenous procurement program.
Garry Hartle, a senior compliance auditor, says the 'absence of external audits will result in a lack of oversight to detect and deter public corruption.' Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu
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‘They put a phone in your face and start filming you and insulting you’: MPs, cabinet ministers call out growing aggression, harassment by Hill protesters

  • Liberal MP Rob Oliphant was chased down the street, Bloc MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné says a protester grabbed a colleague’s coat, and NDP MP Lori
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 27, 2024
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley wades through Freedom Convoy supporters as he arrives on the Hill on Sept. 16, 2024. Security measures on Parliament Hill have been 'significantly' tightened in the wake of increasingly aggressive protesters—some of which have been associated with the 'Freedom Convoy' movement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘They put a phone in your face and start filming you and insulting you’: MPs, cabinet ministers call out growing aggression, harassment by Hill protesters

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 27, 2024
  • Liberal MP Rob Oliphant was chased down the street, Bloc MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné says a protester grabbed a colleague’s coat, and NDP MP Lori

‘They put a phone in your face and start filming you and insulting you’: MPs, cabinet ministers call out growing aggression, harassment by Hill protesters

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 27, 2024
  • Liberal MP Rob Oliphant was chased down the street, Bloc MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné says a protester grabbed a colleague’s coat, and NDP MP Lori
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley wades through Freedom Convoy supporters as he arrives on the Hill on Sept. 16, 2024. Security measures on Parliament Hill have been 'significantly' tightened in the wake of increasingly aggressive protesters—some of which have been associated with the 'Freedom Convoy' movement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Indigenous business verification for procurement ‘just not working,’ MPs hear

  • Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Joanna Bernard says the lack of a consistent verification approach 'creates a risk of false claims, tokenism, exploitation
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2024
AFN Regional Chief Joanna Bernard told MPs that there is 'no consistent way of verifying the legitimacy of Indigenous businesses.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Indigenous business verification for procurement ‘just not working,’ MPs hear

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2024
  • Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Joanna Bernard says the lack of a consistent verification approach 'creates a risk of false claims, tokenism, exploitation

Indigenous business verification for procurement ‘just not working,’ MPs hear

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2024
  • Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Joanna Bernard says the lack of a consistent verification approach 'creates a risk of false claims, tokenism, exploitation
AFN Regional Chief Joanna Bernard told MPs that there is 'no consistent way of verifying the legitimacy of Indigenous businesses.' The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

‘This is not a game’: MPs point fingers over use of committee for ‘content creation’ as procurement studies evolve

  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee still has 'tens of thousands' of pages of evidence to review as ArriveCan work wraps up.
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 23, 2024
House Government Operations and Estimates Committee chair Kelly McCauley. The committee's work on government procurement and contracting dominated this year's headlines. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘This is not a game’: MPs point fingers over use of committee for ‘content creation’ as procurement studies evolve

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 23, 2024
  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee still has 'tens of thousands' of pages of evidence to review as ArriveCan work wraps up.

‘This is not a game’: MPs point fingers over use of committee for ‘content creation’ as procurement studies evolve

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 23, 2024
  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee still has 'tens of thousands' of pages of evidence to review as ArriveCan work wraps up.
House Government Operations and Estimates Committee chair Kelly McCauley. The committee's work on government procurement and contracting dominated this year's headlines. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Public servants declared 78 conflicts of interest tied to federal contracts last year: Treasury Board

  • The data raises new questions for opposition MPs who have been demanding answers from the government about public servants 'double-dipping' as contractors.
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2024
The departments overseen by Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, and Treasury Board President Anita Anand have been in the spotlight as the Liberals face questions over their handling of federal contracting. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Public servants declared 78 conflicts of interest tied to federal contracts last year: Treasury Board

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2024
  • The data raises new questions for opposition MPs who have been demanding answers from the government about public servants 'double-dipping' as contractors.

Public servants declared 78 conflicts of interest tied to federal contracts last year: Treasury Board

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2024
  • The data raises new questions for opposition MPs who have been demanding answers from the government about public servants 'double-dipping' as contractors.
The departments overseen by Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, and Treasury Board President Anita Anand have been in the spotlight as the Liberals face questions over their handling of federal contracting. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Federal procurement watchdog reports 30 per cent surge in complaints 

  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic’s report found that ArriveCan’s primary contractor GC Strategies was favoured as a vendor.
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 13, 2024
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic, right, and Derek Mersereau, left, acting director, inquiries, quality assurance and risk management in the Ombud's Office of Procurement, pictured Jan. 31, 2024, at the House Government Operations Committee on its study of the controversial ArriveCan app. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

Federal procurement watchdog reports 30 per cent surge in complaints 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 13, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic’s report found that ArriveCan’s primary contractor GC Strategies was favoured as a vendor.

Federal procurement watchdog reports 30 per cent surge in complaints 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 13, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic’s report found that ArriveCan’s primary contractor GC Strategies was favoured as a vendor.
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic, right, and Derek Mersereau, left, acting director, inquiries, quality assurance and risk management in the Ombud's Office of Procurement, pictured Jan. 31, 2024, at the House Government Operations Committee on its study of the controversial ArriveCan app. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada expects to spend $1-billion over 10 years running new supply ships

  • Experts say 'modern combat is a freakishly expensive endeavour,' so the high operational costs projections are no surprise.
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2024
On Aug. 9, Defence Minister Bill Blair, centre, visited Seaspan's shipyard in Vancouver, B.C., where the construction of two new ships is underway. Photograph courtesy of X/BillBlair

Canada expects to spend $1-billion over 10 years running new supply ships

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2024
  • Experts say 'modern combat is a freakishly expensive endeavour,' so the high operational costs projections are no surprise.

Canada expects to spend $1-billion over 10 years running new supply ships

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2024
  • Experts say 'modern combat is a freakishly expensive endeavour,' so the high operational costs projections are no surprise.
On Aug. 9, Defence Minister Bill Blair, centre, visited Seaspan's shipyard in Vancouver, B.C., where the construction of two new ships is underway. Photograph courtesy of X/BillBlair

Federal contractors raising money to sue government over alleged procurement misconduct

  • Botler AI's co-founders say they are looking to raise $25,000 to cover the legal fees and subject matter expert costs needed to prepare a
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 29, 2024
Amir Morv, left, and Ritika Dutt, the co-founders of Botler AI, speak at a House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting on Oct. 26, 2023. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Federal contractors raising money to sue government over alleged procurement misconduct

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 29, 2024
  • Botler AI's co-founders say they are looking to raise $25,000 to cover the legal fees and subject matter expert costs needed to prepare a

Federal contractors raising money to sue government over alleged procurement misconduct

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 29, 2024
  • Botler AI's co-founders say they are looking to raise $25,000 to cover the legal fees and subject matter expert costs needed to prepare a
Amir Morv, left, and Ritika Dutt, the co-founders of Botler AI, speak at a House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting on Oct. 26, 2023. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Global Affairs officials defend $9-million New York condo purchase amid opposition outcry

  • Global Affairs is ‘very proud’ new consul-general residence, says senior official Stéphane Cousineau, who predicts the eventual sale of the old property will lead
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly
Conservative MPs accuse Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly of 'deafening silence' on the controversial real estate purchase. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Global Affairs officials defend $9-million New York condo purchase amid opposition outcry

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
  • Global Affairs is ‘very proud’ new consul-general residence, says senior official Stéphane Cousineau, who predicts the eventual sale of the old property will lead

Global Affairs officials defend $9-million New York condo purchase amid opposition outcry

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
  • Global Affairs is ‘very proud’ new consul-general residence, says senior official Stéphane Cousineau, who predicts the eventual sale of the old property will lead
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly
Conservative MPs accuse Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly of 'deafening silence' on the controversial real estate purchase. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Air Canada’s sudden entry into high-frequency rail bid raises conflict-of-interest concerns

  • If commercially sensitive data like pricing and ridership forecasts are available to bidders, it could give Air Canada an advantage over competitor airlines, says
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 19, 2024
In 2023, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced the launch of a request for proposals for a high-speed rail project along the Quebec-Windsor corridor. The Hill Times photography by Andrew Meade

Air Canada’s sudden entry into high-frequency rail bid raises conflict-of-interest concerns

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 19, 2024
  • If commercially sensitive data like pricing and ridership forecasts are available to bidders, it could give Air Canada an advantage over competitor airlines, says

Air Canada’s sudden entry into high-frequency rail bid raises conflict-of-interest concerns

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 19, 2024
  • If commercially sensitive data like pricing and ridership forecasts are available to bidders, it could give Air Canada an advantage over competitor airlines, says
In 2023, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez announced the launch of a request for proposals for a high-speed rail project along the Quebec-Windsor corridor. The Hill Times photography by Andrew Meade

Feds paid $19.4-million for public opinion research last year, with Public Health Agency and PCO spending the most

  • ​​Advanis, Ipsos, and Léger were the top three recipients of Ottawa's research spending last year. These studies have a 'significant impact' on government decisions,
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos Minister, commissioned $19.4-million of public opinion research for 36 government departments in the past fiscal year. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Feds paid $19.4-million for public opinion research last year, with Public Health Agency and PCO spending the most

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
  • ​​Advanis, Ipsos, and Léger were the top three recipients of Ottawa's research spending last year. These studies have a 'significant impact' on government decisions,

Feds paid $19.4-million for public opinion research last year, with Public Health Agency and PCO spending the most

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
  • ​​Advanis, Ipsos, and Léger were the top three recipients of Ottawa's research spending last year. These studies have a 'significant impact' on government decisions,
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos Minister, commissioned $19.4-million of public opinion research for 36 government departments in the past fiscal year. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

MPs ‘not very confident’ Ottawa will meet new supply ship timeline, as ‘same old’ procurement issues drive up costs

  • Bloc MP Julie Vignola says both the federal government and its supplier 'misjudged the construction capacities' of the chosen shipyard.
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
Bill Blair
Bill Blair
The Department of Defence, led by Minister Bill Blair, announced an almost $1-billion increase to the cost of building new supply ships in early August. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs ‘not very confident’ Ottawa will meet new supply ship timeline, as ‘same old’ procurement issues drive up costs

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
  • Bloc MP Julie Vignola says both the federal government and its supplier 'misjudged the construction capacities' of the chosen shipyard.

MPs ‘not very confident’ Ottawa will meet new supply ship timeline, as ‘same old’ procurement issues drive up costs

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
  • Bloc MP Julie Vignola says both the federal government and its supplier 'misjudged the construction capacities' of the chosen shipyard.
Bill Blair
The Department of Defence, led by Minister Bill Blair, announced an almost $1-billion increase to the cost of building new supply ships in early August. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

Is Canada’s military procurement system broken? Some defence experts say it is, others say it works as designed

  • Ottawa has revealed that the cost of building the Navy's long-delayed supply ships has surged by nearly $1-billion, reaching a total of over $5.2-billion.
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 9, 2024
Defence Minister Bill Blair, left, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos oversee a military procurement system that has struggled for decades with major project delays and cost overruns. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Is Canada’s military procurement system broken? Some defence experts say it is, others say it works as designed

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 9, 2024
  • Ottawa has revealed that the cost of building the Navy's long-delayed supply ships has surged by nearly $1-billion, reaching a total of over $5.2-billion.

Is Canada’s military procurement system broken? Some defence experts say it is, others say it works as designed

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 9, 2024
  • Ottawa has revealed that the cost of building the Navy's long-delayed supply ships has surged by nearly $1-billion, reaching a total of over $5.2-billion.
Defence Minister Bill Blair, left, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos oversee a military procurement system that has struggled for decades with major project delays and cost overruns. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Public servant denies fault in controversial ArriveCan contract, says she is ‘muzzled’ with job at risk

  • Diane Daly denies involvement in developing the contracting criteria that ‘favoured’ GC Strategies, and secured the two-person IT firm a $25-million contract for its
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
Diane Daly
Diane Daly
Diane Daly, an employee with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) tells MPs that she is "very concerned that if I tell the truth here, I'm going to lose my job,” in her testimony on ArriveCan. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Public servant denies fault in controversial ArriveCan contract, says she is ‘muzzled’ with job at risk

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
  • Diane Daly denies involvement in developing the contracting criteria that ‘favoured’ GC Strategies, and secured the two-person IT firm a $25-million contract for its

Public servant denies fault in controversial ArriveCan contract, says she is ‘muzzled’ with job at risk

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
  • Diane Daly denies involvement in developing the contracting criteria that ‘favoured’ GC Strategies, and secured the two-person IT firm a $25-million contract for its
Diane Daly
Diane Daly, an employee with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) tells MPs that she is "very concerned that if I tell the truth here, I'm going to lose my job,” in her testimony on ArriveCan. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Planned submarine buy will be ‘eye-wateringly expensive,’ but the Navy ‘desperately’ needs them, say defence experts

  • 'Finding the money for this weapon system will be the biggest hurdle,' says Canadian Forces College professor Paul Mitchell.
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 1, 2024
Defence Minister Bill Blair announced that Canada is launching a procurement process to buy up to 12 conventionally powered submarines at the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., on July 10. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Planned submarine buy will be ‘eye-wateringly expensive,’ but the Navy ‘desperately’ needs them, say defence experts

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 1, 2024
  • 'Finding the money for this weapon system will be the biggest hurdle,' says Canadian Forces College professor Paul Mitchell.

Planned submarine buy will be ‘eye-wateringly expensive,’ but the Navy ‘desperately’ needs them, say defence experts

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 1, 2024
  • 'Finding the money for this weapon system will be the biggest hurdle,' says Canadian Forces College professor Paul Mitchell.
Defence Minister Bill Blair announced that Canada is launching a procurement process to buy up to 12 conventionally powered submarines at the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., on July 10. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘ArriveCan is different than other scandals,’ say experts, warning improprieties ‘erode public confidence’

  • 'If we repeat the same mistakes, obviously we're not doing the right thing,' says Patrice Poitevin, a retired senior RCMP investigator.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says that 'blaming public service won’t resolve procurement issues,' but more resources and oversight are needed. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

‘ArriveCan is different than other scandals,’ say experts, warning improprieties ‘erode public confidence’

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
  • 'If we repeat the same mistakes, obviously we're not doing the right thing,' says Patrice Poitevin, a retired senior RCMP investigator.

‘ArriveCan is different than other scandals,’ say experts, warning improprieties ‘erode public confidence’

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
  • 'If we repeat the same mistakes, obviously we're not doing the right thing,' says Patrice Poitevin, a retired senior RCMP investigator.
Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says that 'blaming public service won’t resolve procurement issues,' but more resources and oversight are needed. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Conservative MPs push officials for answers after RCMP lays fraud charges against consultant

  • 'No department is safe from fraud,' says Catherine Poulin, assistant deputy minister of the departmental oversight branch at Public Services and Procurement Canada.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 23, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos previously told the Hill Times that more information on another five to 10 fraudulent cases is likely to be made public in the summer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservative MPs push officials for answers after RCMP lays fraud charges against consultant

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 23, 2024
  • 'No department is safe from fraud,' says Catherine Poulin, assistant deputy minister of the departmental oversight branch at Public Services and Procurement Canada.

Conservative MPs push officials for answers after RCMP lays fraud charges against consultant

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 23, 2024
  • 'No department is safe from fraud,' says Catherine Poulin, assistant deputy minister of the departmental oversight branch at Public Services and Procurement Canada.
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos previously told the Hill Times that more information on another five to 10 fraudulent cases is likely to be made public in the summer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada ‘catching up’ with NATO allies by bolstering air defence systems since ‘wake-up call’ in Ukraine, experts say

  • The war in Ukraine has informed NATO allies and Canadian procurement strategies in 'all kinds of ways,' says defence expert David Perry.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2024
Defence Minister Bill Blair unveiled the government's defence policy update on April 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada ‘catching up’ with NATO allies by bolstering air defence systems since ‘wake-up call’ in Ukraine, experts say

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2024
  • The war in Ukraine has informed NATO allies and Canadian procurement strategies in 'all kinds of ways,' says defence expert David Perry.

Canada ‘catching up’ with NATO allies by bolstering air defence systems since ‘wake-up call’ in Ukraine, experts say

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2024
  • The war in Ukraine has informed NATO allies and Canadian procurement strategies in 'all kinds of ways,' says defence expert David Perry.
Defence Minister Bill Blair unveiled the government's defence policy update on April 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Health-plan switch remains ‘a disaster’ despite improvements, say union, Bloc MP

  • The Canada Life plan is 'still not pulling its weight' in the year since the health-care plan provider changed, says PIPSC's Colby Briggs.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
The departments of Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand oversee the government’s health-care plan, which transitioned from Sun Life to Canada Life on July 1, 2023. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Health-plan switch remains ‘a disaster’ despite improvements, say union, Bloc MP

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
  • The Canada Life plan is 'still not pulling its weight' in the year since the health-care plan provider changed, says PIPSC's Colby Briggs.

Health-plan switch remains ‘a disaster’ despite improvements, say union, Bloc MP

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
  • The Canada Life plan is 'still not pulling its weight' in the year since the health-care plan provider changed, says PIPSC's Colby Briggs.
The departments of Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, left, Treasury Board President Anita Anand oversee the government’s health-care plan, which transitioned from Sun Life to Canada Life on July 1, 2023. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

‘In the new world order,’ feds must work with industry to fix IT procurement problems, say experts

  • New research examining IT procurement failures—the ArriveCan app, the Phoenix pay system, and Employment and Social Development Canada’s benefits modernization system—reveals three common issues:
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says information technology 'is one of the areas that needs improvement in the public service.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘In the new world order,’ feds must work with industry to fix IT procurement problems, say experts

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
  • New research examining IT procurement failures—the ArriveCan app, the Phoenix pay system, and Employment and Social Development Canada’s benefits modernization system—reveals three common issues:

‘In the new world order,’ feds must work with industry to fix IT procurement problems, say experts

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
  • New research examining IT procurement failures—the ArriveCan app, the Phoenix pay system, and Employment and Social Development Canada’s benefits modernization system—reveals three common issues:
Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says information technology 'is one of the areas that needs improvement in the public service.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Depoliticize procurement decisions,’ say MPs in new defence report

  • Canada needs 'a well-functioning defence procurement system' with projects delivered in a timely manner, according to the report, which says that outcome should be
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 24, 2024
Defence Minister Bill Blair says the two-per-cent target is a 'challenge' for Canada but 'we’re going to reach it.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Depoliticize procurement decisions,’ say MPs in new defence report

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 24, 2024
  • Canada needs 'a well-functioning defence procurement system' with projects delivered in a timely manner, according to the report, which says that outcome should be

‘Depoliticize procurement decisions,’ say MPs in new defence report

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 24, 2024
  • Canada needs 'a well-functioning defence procurement system' with projects delivered in a timely manner, according to the report, which says that outcome should be
Defence Minister Bill Blair says the two-per-cent target is a 'challenge' for Canada but 'we’re going to reach it.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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