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Friday, April 26, 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.

What’s in the budget for federal procurement? More money for housing, less for long-term projects

  • Key highlights of the budget concerning procurement include 'strengthening integrity in the public service,' as the ArriveCan scandal unfolds.
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 25, 2024
Budget 2024 gives Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos' department $500-million over five years to launch a new Public Lands Acquisition Fund. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

What’s in the budget for federal procurement? More money for housing, less for long-term projects

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 25, 2024
  • Key highlights of the budget concerning procurement include 'strengthening integrity in the public service,' as the ArriveCan scandal unfolds.

What’s in the budget for federal procurement? More money for housing, less for long-term projects

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 25, 2024
  • Key highlights of the budget concerning procurement include 'strengthening integrity in the public service,' as the ArriveCan scandal unfolds.
Budget 2024 gives Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos' department $500-million over five years to launch a new Public Lands Acquisition Fund. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan contractor admits ‘mistakes,’ faces historic public rebuke in Parliament; RCMP search contractor’s home day before House admonishment

  • After being admonished in the House of Commons on April 17, ArriveCan contractor Kristian Firth confirms the RCMP searched his property, but that it
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
Kristian Firth, managing partner of GC Strategies, pictured April 17, 2024, at the bar in the House of Commons. Firth was admonished by the House Speaker and was forced to answer MPs' questions about his company's government contract for the ArriveCan app. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

ArriveCan contractor admits ‘mistakes,’ faces historic public rebuke in Parliament; RCMP search contractor’s home day before House admonishment

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
  • After being admonished in the House of Commons on April 17, ArriveCan contractor Kristian Firth confirms the RCMP searched his property, but that it

ArriveCan contractor admits ‘mistakes,’ faces historic public rebuke in Parliament; RCMP search contractor’s home day before House admonishment

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
  • After being admonished in the House of Commons on April 17, ArriveCan contractor Kristian Firth confirms the RCMP searched his property, but that it
Kristian Firth, managing partner of GC Strategies, pictured April 17, 2024, at the bar in the House of Commons. Firth was admonished by the House Speaker and was forced to answer MPs' questions about his company's government contract for the ArriveCan app. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Procurement watchdog to probe ‘bait and switch’ practices across departments amid ArriveCan revelations

  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's January report found most of the subcontractors pitched to secure a contract with the government on the ArriveCan application did
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic answers questions from MPs at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Jan. 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Procurement watchdog to probe ‘bait and switch’ practices across departments amid ArriveCan revelations

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's January report found most of the subcontractors pitched to secure a contract with the government on the ArriveCan application did

Procurement watchdog to probe ‘bait and switch’ practices across departments amid ArriveCan revelations

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 17, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's January report found most of the subcontractors pitched to secure a contract with the government on the ArriveCan application did
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic answers questions from MPs at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Jan. 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds changed procurement strategies to favour McKinsey, says procurement watchdog

  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's office reviewed 32 federal contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company, and found there was a lack of documentation 'to demonstrate
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 15, 2024
The federal government coughed up a total of $117-million in contracts to consulting firm McKinsey and Company between 2011 and 2023, according to Office of the Procurement Ombud, headed by Alexander Jeglic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds changed procurement strategies to favour McKinsey, says procurement watchdog

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 15, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's office reviewed 32 federal contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company, and found there was a lack of documentation 'to demonstrate

Feds changed procurement strategies to favour McKinsey, says procurement watchdog

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 15, 2024
  • Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic's office reviewed 32 federal contracts awarded to McKinsey and Company, and found there was a lack of documentation 'to demonstrate
The federal government coughed up a total of $117-million in contracts to consulting firm McKinsey and Company between 2011 and 2023, according to Office of the Procurement Ombud, headed by Alexander Jeglic. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds pledge faster and better defence procurement strategy, but experts say it all comes down to execution

  • The April 8 policy update acknowledged that ‘defence procurement takes too long in Canada and needs to be faster and more effective,’ but the
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 10, 2024
Defence Minister Bill Blair was among the members of cabinet who unveiled the government's defence policy update on April 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds pledge faster and better defence procurement strategy, but experts say it all comes down to execution

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 10, 2024
  • The April 8 policy update acknowledged that ‘defence procurement takes too long in Canada and needs to be faster and more effective,’ but the

Feds pledge faster and better defence procurement strategy, but experts say it all comes down to execution

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 10, 2024
  • The April 8 policy update acknowledged that ‘defence procurement takes too long in Canada and needs to be faster and more effective,’ but the
Defence Minister Bill Blair was among the members of cabinet who unveiled the government's defence policy update on April 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

CBSA told KPMG to go subcontract through GC Strategies to work on ArriveCan, MPs hear

  • Antonio Utano, a director-general at the Canada Revenue Agency, and Cameron MacDonald, an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada, have been suspended without pay
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2024
Hartaj Nijjar, KPMG's partner and national leader for cybersecurity services, left, and Lydia Lee, the firm's partner and national leader for the firm's digital health transformation practice, testified before the House Public Accounts Committee on April 4. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVU

CBSA told KPMG to go subcontract through GC Strategies to work on ArriveCan, MPs hear

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2024
  • Antonio Utano, a director-general at the Canada Revenue Agency, and Cameron MacDonald, an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada, have been suspended without pay

CBSA told KPMG to go subcontract through GC Strategies to work on ArriveCan, MPs hear

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 4, 2024
  • Antonio Utano, a director-general at the Canada Revenue Agency, and Cameron MacDonald, an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada, have been suspended without pay
Hartaj Nijjar, KPMG's partner and national leader for cybersecurity services, left, and Lydia Lee, the firm's partner and national leader for the firm's digital health transformation practice, testified before the House Public Accounts Committee on April 4. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVU

Defence department spent around $1.2-billion on consultants last year

  • "A significant amount of money— is [spent] on professional services related to IT contracts,” Matthews had told the House Public Accounts Committee on March
News | BY IREM KOCA | April 3, 2024
Minister of National Defence Bill Blair speaks at a press conference in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 20, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Defence department spent around $1.2-billion on consultants last year

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 3, 2024
  • "A significant amount of money— is [spent] on professional services related to IT contracts,” Matthews had told the House Public Accounts Committee on March

Defence department spent around $1.2-billion on consultants last year

News | BY IREM KOCA | April 3, 2024
  • "A significant amount of money— is [spent] on professional services related to IT contracts,” Matthews had told the House Public Accounts Committee on March
Minister of National Defence Bill Blair speaks at a press conference in the House of Commons foyer before Question Period on Nov. 20, 2023. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan app provided ‘value for money,’ just not the ‘best value,’ CBSA official tells MPs

  • The maintenance of the existing ArriveCan application costs just under $3-million annually.
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 27, 2024
Jonathan Moor, vice-president of Canada Border Services Agency's comptrollership branch speaking at the Government Operations and Estimates on Mar. 26, 2024. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

ArriveCan app provided ‘value for money,’ just not the ‘best value,’ CBSA official tells MPs

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 27, 2024
  • The maintenance of the existing ArriveCan application costs just under $3-million annually.

ArriveCan app provided ‘value for money,’ just not the ‘best value,’ CBSA official tells MPs

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 27, 2024
  • The maintenance of the existing ArriveCan application costs just under $3-million annually.
Jonathan Moor, vice-president of Canada Border Services Agency's comptrollership branch speaking at the Government Operations and Estimates on Mar. 26, 2024. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Defence contractors are ‘a giant vampire sucking billions of taxpayer dollars’: public service union head

  • Canada spends roughly $5-billion a year on external contracts, which includes contracts for the procurement of planes and ships, according to Bill Matthews, deputy
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2024
Jennifer Carr, PIPSC President, speaks at a press conference in West Block on Feb. 27, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Defence contractors are ‘a giant vampire sucking billions of taxpayer dollars’: public service union head

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2024
  • Canada spends roughly $5-billion a year on external contracts, which includes contracts for the procurement of planes and ships, according to Bill Matthews, deputy

Defence contractors are ‘a giant vampire sucking billions of taxpayer dollars’: public service union head

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 26, 2024
  • Canada spends roughly $5-billion a year on external contracts, which includes contracts for the procurement of planes and ships, according to Bill Matthews, deputy
Jennifer Carr, PIPSC President, speaks at a press conference in West Block on Feb. 27, 2024. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan contractor did not disclose conflict of interest, says Anand

  • Auditor General Karen Hogan's review into the ArriveCan app estimated that Dalian—in joint venture with Coradix—was paid $7.9-million for its work. But company founder
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 20, 2024
On March 19, Dalian Enterprises founder David Yeo told MPs on the House Public Accounts Committee he was not in a conflict of interest, despite his firm having contracts for the development of the ArriveCan app when he started a job as a public servant in 2023. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

ArriveCan contractor did not disclose conflict of interest, says Anand

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 20, 2024
  • Auditor General Karen Hogan's review into the ArriveCan app estimated that Dalian—in joint venture with Coradix—was paid $7.9-million for its work. But company founder

ArriveCan contractor did not disclose conflict of interest, says Anand

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 20, 2024
  • Auditor General Karen Hogan's review into the ArriveCan app estimated that Dalian—in joint venture with Coradix—was paid $7.9-million for its work. But company founder
On March 19, Dalian Enterprises founder David Yeo told MPs on the House Public Accounts Committee he was not in a conflict of interest, despite his firm having contracts for the development of the ArriveCan app when he started a job as a public servant in 2023. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

GC Strategies partner deems the auditor general’s findings ‘incorrect’ despite admitting to never having read them or intending to do so

  • Anthony testified that, to his knowledge, his government security clearance remains unaffected, while partner Kristian Firth's was revoked amidst misconduct allegations and scrutiny around
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2024
GC Strategies co-founder Darren Anthony appeared before the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on March 14. Screenshot courtesy of House of Commons

GC Strategies partner deems the auditor general’s findings ‘incorrect’ despite admitting to never having read them or intending to do so

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2024
  • Anthony testified that, to his knowledge, his government security clearance remains unaffected, while partner Kristian Firth's was revoked amidst misconduct allegations and scrutiny around

GC Strategies partner deems the auditor general’s findings ‘incorrect’ despite admitting to never having read them or intending to do so

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 14, 2024
  • Anthony testified that, to his knowledge, his government security clearance remains unaffected, while partner Kristian Firth's was revoked amidst misconduct allegations and scrutiny around
GC Strategies co-founder Darren Anthony appeared before the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on March 14. Screenshot courtesy of House of Commons

Key ArriveCan contractor disputes AG’s findings, says his firm was paid less than $19M for app

  • GC Strategies expressed its 'disagreement' with the auditor general’s estimate it was paid $19.1-million for the ArriveCan build prior to the release of the
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 13, 2024
GC Strategies co-founder Kristian Firth appeared before the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on March 13. His business partner, Darren Anthony, will testify before the same committee on March 14. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

Key ArriveCan contractor disputes AG’s findings, says his firm was paid less than $19M for app

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 13, 2024
  • GC Strategies expressed its 'disagreement' with the auditor general’s estimate it was paid $19.1-million for the ArriveCan build prior to the release of the

Key ArriveCan contractor disputes AG’s findings, says his firm was paid less than $19M for app

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 13, 2024
  • GC Strategies expressed its 'disagreement' with the auditor general’s estimate it was paid $19.1-million for the ArriveCan build prior to the release of the
GC Strategies co-founder Kristian Firth appeared before the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on March 13. His business partner, Darren Anthony, will testify before the same committee on March 14. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVu

ArriveCan: What you need to know before key witnesses’ testimonies

  • Allegations of misconduct, conflict of interest, and a nearly $60-million price tag loom over the three main ArriveCan contractors: GC Strategies, Dalian Enterprises, and
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 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 The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan: What you need to know before key witnesses’ testimonies

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2024
  • Allegations of misconduct, conflict of interest, and a nearly $60-million price tag loom over the three main ArriveCan contractors: GC Strategies, Dalian Enterprises, and

ArriveCan: What you need to know before key witnesses’ testimonies

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 12, 2024
  • Allegations of misconduct, conflict of interest, and a nearly $60-million price tag loom over the three main ArriveCan contractors: GC Strategies, Dalian Enterprises, and
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 The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds suspend security status of company at heart of ArriveCan controversy

  • GC Strategies was the primary contractor for the procurement of the ArriveCan app, and received an estimated $19.1-million for its work, which did not involve
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 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

Feds suspend security status of company at heart of ArriveCan controversy

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2024
  • GC Strategies was the primary contractor for the procurement of the ArriveCan app, and received an estimated $19.1-million for its work, which did not involve

Feds suspend security status of company at heart of ArriveCan controversy

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 6, 2024
  • GC Strategies was the primary contractor for the procurement of the ArriveCan app, and received an estimated $19.1-million for its work, which did not involve
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

ArriveCan fallout gives Liberals a ‘very black eye,’ as public pressure builds on government to resolve mess, say politicos

  • The political repercussions from ArriveCan 'will not play well, and 'will not go away,' according to Aaron Wudrick, who called the issue 'symbolic' of
News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2024
Although politics of this issue are 'inextricably linked' to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government, the real concern from a non-partisan standpoint should be to identify where the weak links are in the government procurement processes and fix them, says Aaron Wudrick. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan fallout gives Liberals a ‘very black eye,’ as public pressure builds on government to resolve mess, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2024
  • The political repercussions from ArriveCan 'will not play well, and 'will not go away,' according to Aaron Wudrick, who called the issue 'symbolic' of

ArriveCan fallout gives Liberals a ‘very black eye,’ as public pressure builds on government to resolve mess, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | March 5, 2024
  • The political repercussions from ArriveCan 'will not play well, and 'will not go away,' according to Aaron Wudrick, who called the issue 'symbolic' of
Although politics of this issue are 'inextricably linked' to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government, the real concern from a non-partisan standpoint should be to identify where the weak links are in the government procurement processes and fix them, says Aaron Wudrick. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Eight years after Phoenix launch, unions demand ‘ongoing damages’ for affected employees as new system still in development

  • Since 2018, $154-million has gone to contractors to develop an alternative pay system, in addition to the billions of dollars spent on Phoenix fixes.
News | BY IREM KOCA, MIKE LAPOINTE | March 4, 2024
Yvon Barrière, regional executive vice-president for Quebec, Public Service Alliance of Canada; left, Chris Aylward, national president of PSAC; Jennifer Carr, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada; and Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Eight years after Phoenix launch, unions demand ‘ongoing damages’ for affected employees as new system still in development

News | BY IREM KOCA, MIKE LAPOINTE | March 4, 2024
  • Since 2018, $154-million has gone to contractors to develop an alternative pay system, in addition to the billions of dollars spent on Phoenix fixes.

Eight years after Phoenix launch, unions demand ‘ongoing damages’ for affected employees as new system still in development

News | BY IREM KOCA, MIKE LAPOINTE | March 4, 2024
  • Since 2018, $154-million has gone to contractors to develop an alternative pay system, in addition to the billions of dollars spent on Phoenix fixes.
Yvon Barrière, regional executive vice-president for Quebec, Public Service Alliance of Canada; left, Chris Aylward, national president of PSAC; Jennifer Carr, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada; and Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals vote against disclosure of ArriveCan costs as Opposition MPs accuse the government of filibustering

  • 'We want to know: where did the money go? Who got rich? That's we want to see with this documentation… [This motion is] going
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 28, 2024
The ArriveCan controversy dominated question period on February 28, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre exchanged barbs over the government's handling of the issue. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Liberals vote against disclosure of ArriveCan costs as Opposition MPs accuse the government of filibustering

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 28, 2024
  • 'We want to know: where did the money go? Who got rich? That's we want to see with this documentation… [This motion is] going

Liberals vote against disclosure of ArriveCan costs as Opposition MPs accuse the government of filibustering

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 28, 2024
  • 'We want to know: where did the money go? Who got rich? That's we want to see with this documentation… [This motion is] going
The ArriveCan controversy dominated question period on February 28, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre exchanged barbs over the government's handling of the issue. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Former CBSA officials say they are being scapegoated in a ‘coverup’ over ArriveCan

  • 'The reality is this document is nothing more than a collection of baseless accusations, unsupported by any corroborating evidence, accusations of wrongdoing, supported by
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 23, 2024
Antonio Utano, left, and Cameron MacDonald at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting in the West Block on Feb. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Former CBSA officials say they are being scapegoated in a ‘coverup’ over ArriveCan

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 23, 2024
  • 'The reality is this document is nothing more than a collection of baseless accusations, unsupported by any corroborating evidence, accusations of wrongdoing, supported by

Former CBSA officials say they are being scapegoated in a ‘coverup’ over ArriveCan

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 23, 2024
  • 'The reality is this document is nothing more than a collection of baseless accusations, unsupported by any corroborating evidence, accusations of wrongdoing, supported by
Antonio Utano, left, and Cameron MacDonald at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee meeting in the West Block on Feb. 22. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Pair of public servants in the middle of ArriveCan allegations appeal to Federal Court to block CBSA review

  • Cameron MacDonald and Antonio Utano will appear at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Feb. 22.
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 21, 2024
Cameron MacDonald, an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada, left; and Antonio Utano, a director general at the Canada Revenue Agency, asking the Federal Court to throw out an internal CBSA report on the procurement of the ArriveCan application. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVU

Pair of public servants in the middle of ArriveCan allegations appeal to Federal Court to block CBSA review

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 21, 2024
  • Cameron MacDonald and Antonio Utano will appear at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Feb. 22.

Pair of public servants in the middle of ArriveCan allegations appeal to Federal Court to block CBSA review

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 21, 2024
  • Cameron MacDonald and Antonio Utano will appear at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee on Feb. 22.
Cameron MacDonald, an assistant deputy minister at Health Canada, left; and Antonio Utano, a director general at the Canada Revenue Agency, asking the Federal Court to throw out an internal CBSA report on the procurement of the ArriveCan application. Screenshot courtesy of ParlVU

Turkish earthquake victims call on the feds to clear a path for immigration, access to health care amid uncertainty a year after disaster

  • Canada's special immigration measures for Turkish earthquake victims provided immediate relief for those fleeing the 2023 disaster, but advocates say ineligibility for benefits like
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 19, 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller makes an announcement about additional supports for asylum claimants in the House of Commons foyer after Question Period on Jan. 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Turkish earthquake victims call on the feds to clear a path for immigration, access to health care amid uncertainty a year after disaster

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 19, 2024
  • Canada's special immigration measures for Turkish earthquake victims provided immediate relief for those fleeing the 2023 disaster, but advocates say ineligibility for benefits like

Turkish earthquake victims call on the feds to clear a path for immigration, access to health care amid uncertainty a year after disaster

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 19, 2024
  • Canada's special immigration measures for Turkish earthquake victims provided immediate relief for those fleeing the 2023 disaster, but advocates say ineligibility for benefits like
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller makes an announcement about additional supports for asylum claimants in the House of Commons foyer after Question Period on Jan. 31. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs push for Canada’s chief auditor to investigate the firm behind the ArriveCan app

  • The auditor general’s office says it's 'evaluating the request' made by the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee to poke deeper into the myriad
News | BY IREM KOCA | February 16, 2024
Auditor General Karen Hogan's Feb. 12 report found 'glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices' throughout the ArriveCan application's development and implementation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs push for Canada’s chief auditor to investigate the firm behind the ArriveCan app

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 16, 2024
  • The auditor general’s office says it's 'evaluating the request' made by the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee to poke deeper into the myriad

MPs push for Canada’s chief auditor to investigate the firm behind the ArriveCan app

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 16, 2024
  • The auditor general’s office says it's 'evaluating the request' made by the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee to poke deeper into the myriad
Auditor General Karen Hogan's Feb. 12 report found 'glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices' throughout the ArriveCan application's development and implementation. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

ArriveCan accountability remains top question as federal spending watchdog says she found ‘disappointing failures’ everywhere she looked

  • Canadians will lose faith in institutions if there are no consequences, says Aaron Wudrick. But it should be bureaucrats—not ministers—who wear the procurement failings,
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

ArriveCan accountability remains top question as federal spending watchdog says she found ‘disappointing failures’ everywhere she looked

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 13, 2024
  • Canadians will lose faith in institutions if there are no consequences, says Aaron Wudrick. But it should be bureaucrats—not ministers—who wear the procurement failings,

ArriveCan accountability remains top question as federal spending watchdog says she found ‘disappointing failures’ everywhere she looked

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 13, 2024
  • Canadians will lose faith in institutions if there are no consequences, says Aaron Wudrick. But it should be bureaucrats—not ministers—who wear the procurement failings,
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

ArriveCAN: CBSA’s internal review found evidence supporting allegations of misconduct

  • Michel Lafleur, CBSA's executive director of professional integrity, revealed that the department had found some evidence warranting further inquiry.
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

ArriveCAN: CBSA’s internal review found evidence supporting allegations of misconduct

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2024
  • Michel Lafleur, CBSA's executive director of professional integrity, revealed that the department had found some evidence warranting further inquiry.

ArriveCAN: CBSA’s internal review found evidence supporting allegations of misconduct

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 6, 2024
  • Michel Lafleur, CBSA's executive director of professional integrity, revealed that the department had found some evidence warranting further inquiry.
CBSA President Erin O’Gorman, pictured Jan. 18, 2024, at the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Ombud review into ArriveCan saga unveils deep-rooted issues in Canada’s procurement system

  • Perception is important in the business of contracting, says expert Alan Williams, and recent revelations about the $54-million ArriveCan app are ‘muddying the waters.’
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

Ombud review into ArriveCan saga unveils deep-rooted issues in Canada’s procurement system

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 2, 2024
  • Perception is important in the business of contracting, says expert Alan Williams, and recent revelations about the $54-million ArriveCan app are ‘muddying the waters.’

Ombud review into ArriveCan saga unveils deep-rooted issues in Canada’s procurement system

News | BY IREM KOCA | February 2, 2024
  • Perception is important in the business of contracting, says expert Alan Williams, and recent revelations about the $54-million ArriveCan app are ‘muddying the waters.’
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

Procurement ombud’s report reveals discrepancies in ArriveCan’s $54-million contract

  • Mandatory criteria used in ArriveCan application procurement were 'overly restrictive' and 'favoured' GC Strategies Inc. as an existing CBSA supplier, which led to the
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

Procurement ombud’s report reveals discrepancies in ArriveCan’s $54-million contract

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 30, 2024
  • Mandatory criteria used in ArriveCan application procurement were 'overly restrictive' and 'favoured' GC Strategies Inc. as an existing CBSA supplier, which led to the

Procurement ombud’s report reveals discrepancies in ArriveCan’s $54-million contract

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 30, 2024
  • Mandatory criteria used in ArriveCan application procurement were 'overly restrictive' and 'favoured' GC Strategies Inc. as an existing CBSA supplier, which led to the
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

AG to publish ArriveCan report next month, House Public Accounts Committee hears

  • Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes told the House Public Accounts Committee that the report on the application will be released on Feb. 12, during
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

AG to publish ArriveCan report next month, House Public Accounts Committee hears

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 25, 2024
  • Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes told the House Public Accounts Committee that the report on the application will be released on Feb. 12, during

AG to publish ArriveCan report next month, House Public Accounts Committee hears

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 25, 2024
  • Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes told the House Public Accounts Committee that the report on the application will be released on Feb. 12, during
Karen Hogan will release a report on the ArriveCan application next month. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

OGGO takes centre stage as top committee arena for uncovering ‘scandals’ and ‘bombshells’

  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee's work made headlines in 2023 for its scrutiny of government spending, including studies into the ArriveCAN app
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

OGGO takes centre stage as top committee arena for uncovering ‘scandals’ and ‘bombshells’

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 24, 2024
  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee's work made headlines in 2023 for its scrutiny of government spending, including studies into the ArriveCAN app

OGGO takes centre stage as top committee arena for uncovering ‘scandals’ and ‘bombshells’

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 24, 2024
  • The House Government Operations and Estimates Committee's work made headlines in 2023 for its scrutiny of government spending, including studies into the ArriveCAN app
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
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‘Proliferation of consultants hiring consultants’: MPs frustrated by tangled web of outsourcing in ArriveCan saga

  • Consultants 'have never been doing better than they are now,' says Conservative MP Garnett Genuis.
News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
MPs of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in session on Wednesday, January 17, 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

‘Proliferation of consultants hiring consultants’: MPs frustrated by tangled web of outsourcing in ArriveCan saga

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
  • Consultants 'have never been doing better than they are now,' says Conservative MP Garnett Genuis.

‘Proliferation of consultants hiring consultants’: MPs frustrated by tangled web of outsourcing in ArriveCan saga

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 22, 2024
  • Consultants 'have never been doing better than they are now,' says Conservative MP Garnett Genuis.
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

‘Massive endeavour’: feds face difficult task in finding contractors for gun buyback scheme, expert warns

  • 'The government has to rely on the private sector and qualified businesses to do the work,' said the University of Ottawa's J.L. Gilles LeVasseur.
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

‘Massive endeavour’: feds face difficult task in finding contractors for gun buyback scheme, expert warns

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 18, 2024
  • 'The government has to rely on the private sector and qualified businesses to do the work,' said the University of Ottawa's J.L. Gilles LeVasseur.

‘Massive endeavour’: feds face difficult task in finding contractors for gun buyback scheme, expert warns

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 18, 2024
  • 'The government has to rely on the private sector and qualified businesses to do the work,' said the University of Ottawa's J.L. Gilles LeVasseur.
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

Government’s outsourcing woes might be rooted in in-house project management gaps, say observers

  • Doing business with the government is not all 'sunshine and blue skies,' says Neil Brodie, noting 'there are companies out there who will not
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

Government’s outsourcing woes might be rooted in in-house project management gaps, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 15, 2024
  • Doing business with the government is not all 'sunshine and blue skies,' says Neil Brodie, noting 'there are companies out there who will not

Government’s outsourcing woes might be rooted in in-house project management gaps, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 15, 2024
  • Doing business with the government is not all 'sunshine and blue skies,' says Neil Brodie, noting 'there are companies out there who will not
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

‘I did it my way’: Senator Dupuis says goodbye to the Red Chamber

  • First appointed in November 2016, Independent Senator Renée Dupuis will reach her mandatory retirement date on Jan. 17. She looks back on a career
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

‘I did it my way’: Senator Dupuis says goodbye to the Red Chamber

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 1, 2024
  • First appointed in November 2016, Independent Senator Renée Dupuis will reach her mandatory retirement date on Jan. 17. She looks back on a career

‘I did it my way’: Senator Dupuis says goodbye to the Red Chamber

News | BY IREM KOCA | January 1, 2024
  • First appointed in November 2016, Independent Senator Renée Dupuis will reach her mandatory retirement date on Jan. 17. She looks back on a career
‘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

‘Are the Mounties next?’: Tory MPs push for RCMP probe into billion-dollar green fund controversy

  • Conservative calls to involve the RCMP came amid a series of committee hearings on Sustainable Development Technology Canada last week where a whistleblower testified
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

‘Are the Mounties next?’: Tory MPs push for RCMP probe into billion-dollar green fund controversy

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 18, 2023
  • Conservative calls to involve the RCMP came amid a series of committee hearings on Sustainable Development Technology Canada last week where a whistleblower testified

‘Are the Mounties next?’: Tory MPs push for RCMP probe into billion-dollar green fund controversy

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 18, 2023
  • Conservative calls to involve the RCMP came amid a series of committee hearings on Sustainable Development Technology Canada last week where a whistleblower testified
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

‘We’re just not able to do what is necessary’: procurement ombud pitches funding boost as cases rise

  • The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman’s budget has remained relatively static since 2008, and with a record number of cases and high inflation, Alexander
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

‘We’re just not able to do what is necessary’: procurement ombud pitches funding boost as cases rise

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 13, 2023
  • The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman’s budget has remained relatively static since 2008, and with a record number of cases and high inflation, Alexander

‘We’re just not able to do what is necessary’: procurement ombud pitches funding boost as cases rise

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 13, 2023
  • The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman’s budget has remained relatively static since 2008, and with a record number of cases and high inflation, Alexander
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

Contracting controversies not yet a political pain point for the Liberals, but could develop, say politicos

  • Government corruption or misuse of spending could be a greater concern for the public in a climate of exceptional inflation and slow economic growth,
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

Contracting controversies not yet a political pain point for the Liberals, but could develop, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 8, 2023
  • Government corruption or misuse of spending could be a greater concern for the public in a climate of exceptional inflation and slow economic growth,

Contracting controversies not yet a political pain point for the Liberals, but could develop, say politicos

News | BY IREM KOCA | December 8, 2023
  • Government corruption or misuse of spending could be a greater concern for the public in a climate of exceptional inflation and slow economic growth,
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

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