Tuesday, October 22, 2024
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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 | October 22, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan says her office is in the process of planning an audit into GC Strategies, the primary contractor for the ArriveCan app. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 22, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 22, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan says her office is in the process of planning an audit into GC Strategies, the primary contractor for the ArriveCan app. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 22, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan says her office is in the process of planning an audit into GC Strategies, the primary contractor for the ArriveCan app. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 22, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 22, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan says her office is in the process of planning an audit into GC Strategies, the primary contractor for the ArriveCan app. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 21, 2024
Karina Gould
Government House Leader Karina Gould says the 'Conservatives are filibustering their own motion,' as the privilege debate stretches to two weeks. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 21, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 21, 2024
Karina Gould
Government House Leader Karina Gould says the 'Conservatives are filibustering their own motion,' as the privilege debate stretches to two weeks. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 17, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Canada, overseen by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, spent more than $280-million on Indigenous procurement in the last two years, but still has not met the government's five per cent target. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 17, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 17, 2024
Public Services and Procurement Canada, overseen by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, spent more than $280-million on Indigenous procurement in the last two years, but still has not met the government's five per cent target. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 11, 2024
Government House Leader Karina Gould, left, said the Liberals want to see the debate come to an end. Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says Parliament can get back to work if the government hands over all unredacted documents related to the controversial cleantech fund. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 11, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 11, 2024
Government House Leader Karina Gould, left, said the Liberals want to see the debate come to an end. Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says Parliament can get back to work if the government hands over all unredacted documents related to the controversial cleantech fund. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 8, 2024
Pierre Poilievre
In an Oct. 8 scrum, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre doubled down on the comments made the day before that earned him a rebuke from the House Speaker. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 8, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 8, 2024
Pierre Poilievre
In an Oct. 8 scrum, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre doubled down on the comments made the day before that earned him a rebuke from the House Speaker. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 7, 2024
Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, put forth a privilege motion on the government's failure to comply with an order to release documents related to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund which has brought Parliament to a standstill. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 7, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 7, 2024
Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, put forth a privilege motion on the government's failure to comply with an order to release documents related to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund which has brought Parliament to a standstill. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 4, 2024
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer's privilege motion on the government's failure to comply with an order to release documents related to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund has brought Parliament to a standstill. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 4, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 4, 2024
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer's privilege motion on the government's failure to comply with an order to release documents related to the Sustainable Development Technology Canada fund has brought Parliament to a standstill. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 3, 2024
Alex Benay
Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, gives an update on the government’s efforts to replace the Phoenix pay system at a July press conference. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 3, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 3, 2024
Alex Benay
Alex Benay, associate deputy minister at Public Services and Procurement Canada, gives an update on the government’s efforts to replace the Phoenix pay system at a July press conference. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 27, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 23, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 13, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 29, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 19, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 15, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 12, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 9, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 1, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 29, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 23, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 1, 2024
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
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
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 27, 2024
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