Irem Koca

Originally from Turkey, broadcast journalist Irem Koca spent several years reporting for CNN Turkey, and freelancing for The New York Times and Reuters before arriving in Canada in 2021 where she obtained a master’s degree in religious extremism from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. After a year-long fellowship at The Toronto Star’s Ottawa bureau, Koca joined The Hill Times in 2023 where she now follows federal procurement, defence, and immigration issues, as well as House committees. Koca is fluent in English and Turkish. Contact her at ikoca@hilltimes.com.

Canada should consider a ‘tit-for-tat’ response to U.S. procurement ban that ‘breaches’ international trade agreements, say experts

Although there are still questions about U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent order, ‘Canada should respond quickly with its own countermeasures, preventing American companies from bidding on Canadian procurements in selected sectors,’ says Lawrence Herman.

news | BY IREM KOCA | September 15, 2026

First Nations procurement authority aims to help feds’ Indigenous contracting woes, support Buy Canadian and defence spending targets, says new CEO Jamieson

First Nations Procurement Authority’s new CEO Darrin Jamieson says the organization has received $240,000 funding from Indigenous Services Canada ‘to get things rolling to operationalize,’ but the total operating budget will be more than a $1-million.

news | BY IREM KOCA | September 12, 2026

‘Unprecedented’ speed of procurement still complicated by bureaucracy, say observers as DIA head reportedly eyes exit

‘You can only bypass [the bureaucracy] so much. You need to change the way it works if you really want to make really substantial reform,’ says David Perry.

news | BY IREM KOCA | September 8, 2026

Southern status quo is ‘problematic’ for northern projects beset by delays and cost overruns, say report, procurement experts

There’s ‘inherent risk’ in operating in the North, and the fixed-price contracting approach favoured by the feds ‘tries to pretend that that risk isn’t there,’ says adviser Jake Kennedy.

news | BY IREM KOCA | September 3, 2026

U.S. remains top foreign supplier to Canada with $253-million secured in federal contracts in 2026 so far

It ‘is a bit of a political problem’ for the government to try to reconcile its Buy Canadian policy and the existing relationship with the Americans, says former defence minister Peter MacKay.

news | BY IREM KOCA | September 2, 2026

Feds should be more robust with ‘critically important’ Buy Canadian policy amid U.S. trade war, say critics

‘Why would we spend billions of dollars on any important military materiel from the United States, given their aggression towards us?’ says NDP MP Don Davies. ‘I think it’s wildly irresponsible.’

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 28, 2026

Industrial benefits program’s move to Defence Investment Agency a ‘big deal’ that will speed procurement, ex-bureaucrats say

Previously housed under ISED, the Industrial and Technological Benefits program is estimated to contribute more than $5-billion to the country’s GDP and more than 40,400 jobs annually.

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 25, 2026

Canada will get return on investment ‘multiple times over’ with $86-billion worth of GDP impact, says German sub maker

The feds have tied the submarine deal to its Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, and the CEO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems says the baseline price of $24-billion for 12 vessels will come back to Canada more than three times over.

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 20, 2026

Feds’ declining spending on public opinion research could be ‘concerning’ long term, say observers

The government’s $12-million spend in 2025 could be partly explained by it being an election year, but ‘if that becomes a longer-term trend, I think, could be concerning, just because I think it’s useful to get that that information,’ says former PMO pollster Dan Arnold.

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 13, 2026

Measures to ease procurement pain for smaller businesses generates momentum, but industry calls for ‘clarity’

The new Small Business Procurement Program, part of the government’s Buy Canadian policy, creates opportunities, but ‘we need to see the details,’ says the Canadian Council of Innovators’ Daniel Perry.

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 11, 2026

Turkish woman’s Toronto-Ottawa walk part of push after feds reject earthquake survivors’ plea to stay in Canada

‘My personal sacrifice is nothing compared to what the TS2023 group has been through over the last three years. I have been walking for a few days. They have been running a marathon for three years,’ says Ozlem Yaman Sahin.

news | BY IREM KOCA | August 8, 2026

Feds urged to simplify procurement as contractors flag persistent issues with system

Former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick says he’s heard the government has become harder to do business with since the ArriveCan scandal by reverting ‘to old cost-based methodologies.’

news | BY IREM KOCA | July 21, 2026

‘Eyes wide open’: potential for risks and rewards with feds’ new ‘rapid’ and ‘less-competitive’ approach to defence procurement, say observers

The government’s efforts to reform defence procurement by accelerating acquisitions are being lauded by industry experts, but they also warn the approach could come with pitfalls such as cost overruns and delays.

news | BY IREM KOCA | July 15, 2026

Sub contract could fall short of meeting ‘100 per cent’ of desired ‘humongous’ economic return, say sources

‘The economic benefits are a huge consideration for the government at the end of the day because they will want to ensure they fully leverage the procurement in support of Canadian industry,’ says one former public servant.

news | BY IREM KOCA | July 13, 2026

Subs decision will ‘create a bond for decades’ with Europe and NATO, says German envoy

Canada’s pick of the German-Norwegian bid for its preferred submarine manufacturer firmly entrenches the prime minister’s broader political pivot to European allies, says one public policy expert.

news | BY IREM KOCA | July 9, 2026

Carney picks German-Norwegian pitch as winning bid to build Canada’s new submarines

The federal government is looking to award the contract by 2028, and is now expected to begin negotiations with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to determine the terms and conditions of the contract.

news | BY IREM KOCA | July 6, 2026