Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Ht-Logo-gigapixel-icon
Monday, October 13, 2025

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Latest Paper
Monday, October 13, 2025 | Latest Paper
Subscribe Now

TRENDING:

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.

Canada has not spoken to South Koreans about building new submarines at home, says embassy

  • The South Korean bidder says it 'refrained' from proposing domestic construction of Canada’s new submarine fleet after feedback from Canadian officials. Meanwhile, its German
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 9, 2025
Victoria-class Submarine
Victoria-class Submarine
Canada is looking to purchase a fleet of 12 submarines with two options on the table from Germany-Norway and South Korea to replace Canada’s aging fleet of Victoria-class vessels. DND photograph by Kenneth Galbraith

Canada has not spoken to South Koreans about building new submarines at home, says embassy

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 9, 2025
  • The South Korean bidder says it 'refrained' from proposing domestic construction of Canada’s new submarine fleet after feedback from Canadian officials. Meanwhile, its German

Canada has not spoken to South Koreans about building new submarines at home, says embassy

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 9, 2025
  • The South Korean bidder says it 'refrained' from proposing domestic construction of Canada’s new submarine fleet after feedback from Canadian officials. Meanwhile, its German
Victoria-class Submarine
Canada is looking to purchase a fleet of 12 submarines with two options on the table from Germany-Norway and South Korea to replace Canada’s aging fleet of Victoria-class vessels. DND photograph by Kenneth Galbraith

Canada’s submarine purchase has new ‘sense of urgency’ with possible selection by end of year, says German envoy 

  • The clock is ticking to replace the aging Victoria-class submarines before they are taken out of the water in the 2030s, leaving the Canadian
News | BY NEIL MOSS, IREM KOCA | October 8, 2025
German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg says there's a new feeling of of momentum that's 'more palpable than before' when it comes to picking between the submarine bids from his country and South Korea. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada’s submarine purchase has new ‘sense of urgency’ with possible selection by end of year, says German envoy 

News | BY NEIL MOSS, IREM KOCA | October 8, 2025
  • The clock is ticking to replace the aging Victoria-class submarines before they are taken out of the water in the 2030s, leaving the Canadian

Canada’s submarine purchase has new ‘sense of urgency’ with possible selection by end of year, says German envoy 

News | BY NEIL MOSS, IREM KOCA | October 8, 2025
  • The clock is ticking to replace the aging Victoria-class submarines before they are taken out of the water in the 2030s, leaving the Canadian
German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg says there's a new feeling of of momentum that's 'more palpable than before' when it comes to picking between the submarine bids from his country and South Korea. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Delayed F-35 review ‘not slowing anything down,’ says SecState for defence procurement Fuhr

  • 'The most important thing is making the right choice, not meeting an arbitrary timeline,' says Stephen Fuhr of the ongoing review of the controversial
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 2, 2025
Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr will lead the new Defence Investment Agency, which aims to remove red tape procurement and accelerate purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Delayed F-35 review ‘not slowing anything down,’ says SecState for defence procurement Fuhr

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 2, 2025
  • 'The most important thing is making the right choice, not meeting an arbitrary timeline,' says Stephen Fuhr of the ongoing review of the controversial

Delayed F-35 review ‘not slowing anything down,’ says SecState for defence procurement Fuhr

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 2, 2025
  • 'The most important thing is making the right choice, not meeting an arbitrary timeline,' says Stephen Fuhr of the ongoing review of the controversial
Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr will lead the new Defence Investment Agency, which aims to remove red tape procurement and accelerate purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives’ push to scrap foreign worker program meets public anxieties, but risks scapegoating migrants, say observers

  • 'The danger [and] challenge is for the Conservatives to have their message portrayed, or come across, as being unwelcoming to new Canadians and diverse
News | BY IREM KOCA | October 1, 2025
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner is using her social media platforms to illustrate the call for the Liberal government to scrap its Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Conservatives’ push to scrap foreign worker program meets public anxieties, but risks scapegoating migrants, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 1, 2025
  • 'The danger [and] challenge is for the Conservatives to have their message portrayed, or come across, as being unwelcoming to new Canadians and diverse

Conservatives’ push to scrap foreign worker program meets public anxieties, but risks scapegoating migrants, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | October 1, 2025
  • 'The danger [and] challenge is for the Conservatives to have their message portrayed, or come across, as being unwelcoming to new Canadians and diverse
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner is using her social media platforms to illustrate the call for the Liberal government to scrap its Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Postal union launches nationwide strike after feds announce ‘heavy-handed intervention’ reforms to transform ‘insolvent’ Canada Post

  • 'The Liberals are burning bridges with the labour movement faster than an express-post delivery,' says Brock University professor Larry Savage.
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2025
Government Transformation, Public Works, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced new reforms for Canada Post on Sept. 25, saying the Crown corporation 'is facing an existential crisis.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Postal union launches nationwide strike after feds announce ‘heavy-handed intervention’ reforms to transform ‘insolvent’ Canada Post

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2025
  • 'The Liberals are burning bridges with the labour movement faster than an express-post delivery,' says Brock University professor Larry Savage.

Postal union launches nationwide strike after feds announce ‘heavy-handed intervention’ reforms to transform ‘insolvent’ Canada Post

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 25, 2025
  • 'The Liberals are burning bridges with the labour movement faster than an express-post delivery,' says Brock University professor Larry Savage.
Government Transformation, Public Works, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced new reforms for Canada Post on Sept. 25, saying the Crown corporation 'is facing an existential crisis.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs settle in for spicy sitting as Government Operations and Estimates Committee prepares to turn up the heat on government

  • The committee has long served as a stage for high-stakes political showdowns, the study of scathing watchdog reports, and long-term probes that test government
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 24, 2025
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley chairs the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee, which probes into government spending. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

MPs settle in for spicy sitting as Government Operations and Estimates Committee prepares to turn up the heat on government

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 24, 2025
  • The committee has long served as a stage for high-stakes political showdowns, the study of scathing watchdog reports, and long-term probes that test government

MPs settle in for spicy sitting as Government Operations and Estimates Committee prepares to turn up the heat on government

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 24, 2025
  • The committee has long served as a stage for high-stakes political showdowns, the study of scathing watchdog reports, and long-term probes that test government
Conservative MP Kelly McCauley chairs the House Government Operations and Estimates Committee, which probes into government spending. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Canada taking ‘necessary’ steps to tap into European defence market with new security pacts amid U.S. tensions: observers

  • The newly signed pacts signal to Europe that Canada is serious in its efforts to shift some of its focus away from the American
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 22, 2025
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, left, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced the signing of security pacts with two more European countries this month in an effort to diversify defence suppliers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

Canada taking ‘necessary’ steps to tap into European defence market with new security pacts amid U.S. tensions: observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 22, 2025
  • The newly signed pacts signal to Europe that Canada is serious in its efforts to shift some of its focus away from the American

Canada taking ‘necessary’ steps to tap into European defence market with new security pacts amid U.S. tensions: observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 22, 2025
  • The newly signed pacts signal to Europe that Canada is serious in its efforts to shift some of its focus away from the American
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, left, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced the signing of security pacts with two more European countries this month in an effort to diversify defence suppliers. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade and Sam Garcia

‘Devil in the details’: feds move to combine procurement regulations in a bid to cut red tape

  • The government's goal of reducing complaints to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal might signal a further limitation of suppliers’ access to the dispute mechanism,
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Joël Lightbound, aims to reduce red tape by combining a patchwork of procurement regulations to boost productivity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Devil in the details’: feds move to combine procurement regulations in a bid to cut red tape

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
  • The government's goal of reducing complaints to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal might signal a further limitation of suppliers’ access to the dispute mechanism,

‘Devil in the details’: feds move to combine procurement regulations in a bid to cut red tape

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
  • The government's goal of reducing complaints to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal might signal a further limitation of suppliers’ access to the dispute mechanism,
Public Services and Procurement Canada, led by Minister Joël Lightbound, aims to reduce red tape by combining a patchwork of procurement regulations to boost productivity. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New budget watchdog says ‘deficit will absolutely be higher’ than forecast, feds have no clear fiscal anchors

  • 'I don't know that the government currently has fiscal anchors, which, of course, causes the people that I work with a considerable degree of
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
Jason Jacques, pictured, was appointed as the interim Parliamentary Budget Officer on Sept. 2 by Prime Minister Mark Carney for a six-month term. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New budget watchdog says ‘deficit will absolutely be higher’ than forecast, feds have no clear fiscal anchors

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
  • 'I don't know that the government currently has fiscal anchors, which, of course, causes the people that I work with a considerable degree of

New budget watchdog says ‘deficit will absolutely be higher’ than forecast, feds have no clear fiscal anchors

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 17, 2025
  • 'I don't know that the government currently has fiscal anchors, which, of course, causes the people that I work with a considerable degree of
Jason Jacques, pictured, was appointed as the interim Parliamentary Budget Officer on Sept. 2 by Prime Minister Mark Carney for a six-month term. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Indigenous procurement: feds urged to work more with communities to verify businesses after ‘historic’ recognition of Métis suppliers 

  • Increased access to federal contracts and ensuring departments meet the government’s five-per-cent Indigenous procurement target are vital to economic reconciliation, says Northern and Arctic
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 12, 2025
Indigenous business leader Shannin Metatawabin says the federal recognition of Indigenous-verified business directories would help restore trust in the federal procurement system. Photograph courtesy of Shannin Metatawabin

Indigenous procurement: feds urged to work more with communities to verify businesses after ‘historic’ recognition of Métis suppliers 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 12, 2025
  • Increased access to federal contracts and ensuring departments meet the government’s five-per-cent Indigenous procurement target are vital to economic reconciliation, says Northern and Arctic

Indigenous procurement: feds urged to work more with communities to verify businesses after ‘historic’ recognition of Métis suppliers 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 12, 2025
  • Increased access to federal contracts and ensuring departments meet the government’s five-per-cent Indigenous procurement target are vital to economic reconciliation, says Northern and Arctic
Indigenous business leader Shannin Metatawabin says the federal recognition of Indigenous-verified business directories would help restore trust in the federal procurement system. Photograph courtesy of Shannin Metatawabin

Define ‘Canadian’: questions loom over Carney’s ‘protectionist’ procurement policy push 

  • 'It’s the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot. But it’s popular politically,' says financial policy expert Ian Lee of the prime minister's move
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing for a new ‘Buy Canadian’ policy in an effort to strengthen the country’s sovereignty against U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, but the fine details needed to put the policy in action are unclear. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Define ‘Canadian’: questions loom over Carney’s ‘protectionist’ procurement policy push 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2025
  • 'It’s the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot. But it’s popular politically,' says financial policy expert Ian Lee of the prime minister's move

Define ‘Canadian’: questions loom over Carney’s ‘protectionist’ procurement policy push 

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 10, 2025
  • 'It’s the equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot. But it’s popular politically,' says financial policy expert Ian Lee of the prime minister's move
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing for a new ‘Buy Canadian’ policy in an effort to strengthen the country’s sovereignty against U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, but the fine details needed to put the policy in action are unclear. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Critics agree on need for reform, but call Tory bid to scrap temporary foreign worker program ‘ridiculous’ and ‘political’

  • The current Temporary Foreign Worker system is 'being mismanaged by the Liberal government, and the Conservatives are being opportunistic' in their call to scrap
News | BY IREM KOCA | September 5, 2025
Pierre Poilievre
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal government 'broke' Canada's immigration system by letting in too many people too fast, and that the feds should stop issuing permits to temporary foreign workers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Critics agree on need for reform, but call Tory bid to scrap temporary foreign worker program ‘ridiculous’ and ‘political’

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 5, 2025
  • The current Temporary Foreign Worker system is 'being mismanaged by the Liberal government, and the Conservatives are being opportunistic' in their call to scrap

Critics agree on need for reform, but call Tory bid to scrap temporary foreign worker program ‘ridiculous’ and ‘political’

News | BY IREM KOCA | September 5, 2025
  • The current Temporary Foreign Worker system is 'being mismanaged by the Liberal government, and the Conservatives are being opportunistic' in their call to scrap
Pierre Poilievre
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the Liberal government 'broke' Canada's immigration system by letting in too many people too fast, and that the feds should stop issuing permits to temporary foreign workers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ digital transformation agenda faces critical risks, Shared Services warns in ministerial briefing

  • Competing priorities and a lack of financial incentives for various government departments to modernize are key hurdles facing the government's digital services arm, a
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 28, 2025
Briefing material prepared by Shared Services Canada for Government Transformation, Public Services, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound shows the department procured $4.3-billion of goods and services in 2023-24. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ digital transformation agenda faces critical risks, Shared Services warns in ministerial briefing

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 28, 2025
  • Competing priorities and a lack of financial incentives for various government departments to modernize are key hurdles facing the government's digital services arm, a

Feds’ digital transformation agenda faces critical risks, Shared Services warns in ministerial briefing

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 28, 2025
  • Competing priorities and a lack of financial incentives for various government departments to modernize are key hurdles facing the government's digital services arm, a
Briefing material prepared by Shared Services Canada for Government Transformation, Public Services, and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound shows the department procured $4.3-billion of goods and services in 2023-24. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney and McGuinty meet the troops

  • Plus, Stephen Fuhr meets with the F-35 builder in Texas.
FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA, IREM KOCA | August 27, 2025
Mark Carney
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia today. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Carney and McGuinty meet the troops

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA, IREM KOCA | August 27, 2025
  • Plus, Stephen Fuhr meets with the F-35 builder in Texas.

Carney and McGuinty meet the troops

FeatureBY PETER MAZEREEUW, RIDDHI KACHHELA, IREM KOCA | August 27, 2025
  • Plus, Stephen Fuhr meets with the F-35 builder in Texas.
Mark Carney
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with Canadian Armed Forces members in Latvia today. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Changes to rules for ‘national security’ contracts bypass competition and raise concerns of potential abuse, say procurement watchers

  • Loosening rules around the use of the National Security Exception may speed up defence procurement, but it could have trade-offs when it comes to
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 23, 2025
Joel Lightbound
Joel Lightbound
Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound, who has been leading this file since May, said his priorities include streamlining the procurement process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Changes to rules for ‘national security’ contracts bypass competition and raise concerns of potential abuse, say procurement watchers

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 23, 2025
  • Loosening rules around the use of the National Security Exception may speed up defence procurement, but it could have trade-offs when it comes to

Changes to rules for ‘national security’ contracts bypass competition and raise concerns of potential abuse, say procurement watchers

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 23, 2025
  • Loosening rules around the use of the National Security Exception may speed up defence procurement, but it could have trade-offs when it comes to
Joel Lightbound
Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound, who has been leading this file since May, said his priorities include streamlining the procurement process. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Reliance on IT contractors exposes feds to risk of foreign interference, experts say, as RCMP warns against North Korean infiltration

  • 'The point is, you have got to know who's doing the work, and you got to know who you're paying. It's not splitting an
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2025
Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound pledged to overhaul government procurement when he first came to his role in May. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Reliance on IT contractors exposes feds to risk of foreign interference, experts say, as RCMP warns against North Korean infiltration

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2025
  • 'The point is, you have got to know who's doing the work, and you got to know who you're paying. It's not splitting an

Reliance on IT contractors exposes feds to risk of foreign interference, experts say, as RCMP warns against North Korean infiltration

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 21, 2025
  • 'The point is, you have got to know who's doing the work, and you got to know who you're paying. It's not splitting an
Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound pledged to overhaul government procurement when he first came to his role in May. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘We don’t have a choice here’: SecState for defence procurement Fuhr pledges to move ‘quicker,’ take more risks

  • 'We’re going to build out the Canadian defence industrial complex at a speed and magnitude we just haven’t done before,' Secretary of State for
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 14, 2025
Secretary for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr says the government is committed to spend 'a lot of money' to over the next few years through military purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘We don’t have a choice here’: SecState for defence procurement Fuhr pledges to move ‘quicker,’ take more risks

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 14, 2025
  • 'We’re going to build out the Canadian defence industrial complex at a speed and magnitude we just haven’t done before,' Secretary of State for

‘We don’t have a choice here’: SecState for defence procurement Fuhr pledges to move ‘quicker,’ take more risks

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 14, 2025
  • 'We’re going to build out the Canadian defence industrial complex at a speed and magnitude we just haven’t done before,' Secretary of State for
Secretary for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr says the government is committed to spend 'a lot of money' to over the next few years through military purchases. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds spent at least $1.7-billion on defence contracts in the first half of 2025, about 16 per cent of which went to U.S. companies: data

  • U.S.-based companies received more than $68.6-million in DND contracts between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025, which is a 24-per-cent increase over the same
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 11, 2025
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J Hercules aircraft, designed and manufactured by American defence company Lockheed Martin, flies over the Kuwait desert on June 13, 2020. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

Feds spent at least $1.7-billion on defence contracts in the first half of 2025, about 16 per cent of which went to U.S. companies: data

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 11, 2025
  • U.S.-based companies received more than $68.6-million in DND contracts between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025, which is a 24-per-cent increase over the same

Feds spent at least $1.7-billion on defence contracts in the first half of 2025, about 16 per cent of which went to U.S. companies: data

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 11, 2025
  • U.S.-based companies received more than $68.6-million in DND contracts between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025, which is a 24-per-cent increase over the same
A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J Hercules aircraft, designed and manufactured by American defence company Lockheed Martin, flies over the Kuwait desert on June 13, 2020. Photograph courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces

Feds need to ‘rethink’ industrial benefits policy and refocus on defence capabilities, say former senior officials: it ‘needs to evolve’

  • Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada needs 'to go back to basics and make sure it's using the policy to build defence capabilities in
News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2025
Mélanie Joly
Mélanie Joly
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the government's defence industrial strategy will be finalized in the coming months. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds need to ‘rethink’ industrial benefits policy and refocus on defence capabilities, say former senior officials: it ‘needs to evolve’

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2025
  • Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada needs 'to go back to basics and make sure it's using the policy to build defence capabilities in

Feds need to ‘rethink’ industrial benefits policy and refocus on defence capabilities, say former senior officials: it ‘needs to evolve’

News | BY IREM KOCA | August 7, 2025
  • Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada needs 'to go back to basics and make sure it's using the policy to build defence capabilities in
Mélanie Joly
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the government's defence industrial strategy will be finalized in the coming months. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ new ‘reciprocal procurement’ policy to limit foreign access to contracts amid U.S. trade tensions

  • The new policy is a testament to the 'changing world order,' says Liberal strategist Geoff Turner. 'Now, if you do not have a procurement
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 17, 2025
Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced a new interim procurement policy on July 14 that allows Canada to limit suppliers from countries that restrict access to their own government contracts. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds’ new ‘reciprocal procurement’ policy to limit foreign access to contracts amid U.S. trade tensions

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 17, 2025
  • The new policy is a testament to the 'changing world order,' says Liberal strategist Geoff Turner. 'Now, if you do not have a procurement

Feds’ new ‘reciprocal procurement’ policy to limit foreign access to contracts amid U.S. trade tensions

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 17, 2025
  • The new policy is a testament to the 'changing world order,' says Liberal strategist Geoff Turner. 'Now, if you do not have a procurement
Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced a new interim procurement policy on July 14 that allows Canada to limit suppliers from countries that restrict access to their own government contracts. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trade tribunal calls for freeze on multimillion-dollar defence contract after complaints it favours U.S. supplier

  • Highly restrictive bid criteria made competition 'impossible' for Canadian and European companies to secure the contract for military night-vision goggles, says a filing from
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 14, 2025
David McGuinty
David McGuinty
Defence Minister David McGuinty said he would 'look into' the terms of the contract before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal called for the government to put a hold on the procurement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Trade tribunal calls for freeze on multimillion-dollar defence contract after complaints it favours U.S. supplier

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 14, 2025
  • Highly restrictive bid criteria made competition 'impossible' for Canadian and European companies to secure the contract for military night-vision goggles, says a filing from

Trade tribunal calls for freeze on multimillion-dollar defence contract after complaints it favours U.S. supplier

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 14, 2025
  • Highly restrictive bid criteria made competition 'impossible' for Canadian and European companies to secure the contract for military night-vision goggles, says a filing from
David McGuinty
Defence Minister David McGuinty said he would 'look into' the terms of the contract before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal called for the government to put a hold on the procurement. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

New U.K. trade strategy IDs Canada as ‘key partner’ to boost economy, procurement opportunities

  • The new plan defines strengthening ties with key partners like Canada as an 'obvious priority,' and builds on leaders' commitments.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 9, 2025
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed on further collaboration across a range of sectors. No 10 Downing Street photograph by Simon Dawson

New U.K. trade strategy IDs Canada as ‘key partner’ to boost economy, procurement opportunities

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 9, 2025
  • The new plan defines strengthening ties with key partners like Canada as an 'obvious priority,' and builds on leaders' commitments.

New U.K. trade strategy IDs Canada as ‘key partner’ to boost economy, procurement opportunities

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 9, 2025
  • The new plan defines strengthening ties with key partners like Canada as an 'obvious priority,' and builds on leaders' commitments.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed on further collaboration across a range of sectors. No 10 Downing Street photograph by Simon Dawson

‘We can no longer sustain Band-Aid solutions’: watchdog calls for urgent changes to federal procurement

  • The system is 'marked by silos of responsibility and accountability,' and needs a convening figure, says Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic in a new report.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2025
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic tells reporters that there needs to be a major overhaul of Canada's $37-billion procurement system to fix persistent issues on July 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘We can no longer sustain Band-Aid solutions’: watchdog calls for urgent changes to federal procurement

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2025
  • The system is 'marked by silos of responsibility and accountability,' and needs a convening figure, says Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic in a new report.

‘We can no longer sustain Band-Aid solutions’: watchdog calls for urgent changes to federal procurement

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 8, 2025
  • The system is 'marked by silos of responsibility and accountability,' and needs a convening figure, says Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic in a new report.
Procurement Ombud Alexander Jeglic tells reporters that there needs to be a major overhaul of Canada's $37-billion procurement system to fix persistent issues on July 8. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds tighten grip on consultant contracts with new procurement rules, $20M cap on time-based work

  • New procurement rules include a $20-million limit on time- and task-based contracts, stricter oversight, and mandatory value-for-money reviews.
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 4, 2025
Joel Lightbound
Joel Lightbound
Government Transformation, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound previously said the rules, 'the roles, and the responsibilities of everyone in the procurement process across departments need to be very clear.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feds tighten grip on consultant contracts with new procurement rules, $20M cap on time-based work

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 4, 2025
  • New procurement rules include a $20-million limit on time- and task-based contracts, stricter oversight, and mandatory value-for-money reviews.

Feds tighten grip on consultant contracts with new procurement rules, $20M cap on time-based work

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 4, 2025
  • New procurement rules include a $20-million limit on time- and task-based contracts, stricter oversight, and mandatory value-for-money reviews.
Joel Lightbound
Government Transformation, and Public Services and Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound previously said the rules, 'the roles, and the responsibilities of everyone in the procurement process across departments need to be very clear.' The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

  • With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its
News | BY IREM KOCA | July 2, 2025
Under Minister Joël Lightbound, Public Services and Procurement Canada plans to spend more than $17.5-billion over the next three years, according to its new departmental plan. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 2, 2025
  • With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its

PSPC’s three-year $17.5-billion spending plan lacks clear roadmap to future goals, say insiders

News | BY IREM KOCA | July 2, 2025
  • With billions on the line and a track record of failed targets, how PSPC plans to deliver on its goals is unclear from its
Under Minister Joël Lightbound, Public Services and Procurement Canada plans to spend more than $17.5-billion over the next three years, according to its new departmental plan. The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

More cash and new alliances show Ottawa is serious about defence, say observers

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney put his $9-billion defence spending pledge before Parliament 'about as fast as he conceivably could have,' says defence procurement expert
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney says the defence and security agreement between Canada-EU will 'help deliver on capability targets more quickly and economically.' The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

More cash and new alliances show Ottawa is serious about defence, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 25, 2025
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney put his $9-billion defence spending pledge before Parliament 'about as fast as he conceivably could have,' says defence procurement expert

More cash and new alliances show Ottawa is serious about defence, say observers

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 25, 2025
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney put his $9-billion defence spending pledge before Parliament 'about as fast as he conceivably could have,' says defence procurement expert
Prime Minister Mark Carney says the defence and security agreement between Canada-EU will 'help deliver on capability targets more quickly and economically.' The Hill Times Photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Too many rules’: AG urges feds to streamline procurement, reduce outsourcing

  • Auditor General Karen Hogan says 'worrying observations' around procurement processes need to be addressed.
News | BY IREM KOCA | June 23, 2025
Karen Hogan
Karen Hogan
Auditor General Karen Hogan’s June 10 report showed federal organizations 'frequently did not demonstrate value for money' in professional services contracts awarded to GC Strategies. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

‘Too many rules’: AG urges feds to streamline procurement, reduce outsourcing

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 23, 2025
  • Auditor General Karen Hogan says 'worrying observations' around procurement processes need to be addressed.

‘Too many rules’: AG urges feds to streamline procurement, reduce outsourcing

News | BY IREM KOCA | June 23, 2025
  • Auditor General Karen Hogan says 'worrying observations' around procurement processes need to be addressed.
Karen Hogan
Auditor General Karen Hogan’s June 10 report showed federal organizations 'frequently did not demonstrate value for money' in professional services contracts awarded to GC Strategies. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
More Stories

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

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

get help

Subscribe
CloseMenu