The Edmonton Police Commission has ordered the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) to revise its media accreditation policy, years after the left-wing news site The Progress Report had its press credentials revoked. In a June 18 decision, the commission found shortcomings in EPS's policies for granting and revoking media credentials, directing the chief to formalize the guidelines into a numbered policy or procedure.
Background of the Dispute
EPS revoked The Progress Report's media accreditation in early 2022, following heated exchanges between publisher Duncan Kinney and then-Chief Dale McFee at press conferences. Kinney alleged the revocation was arbitrary and aimed at silencing a critical media outlet. Then-EPS media relations director Patricia Misutka cited "disrespectful conduct" and reporting that "failed to meet the truth and accuracy standard of professional and ethical journalism" as reasons for the decision.
Commission's Findings and Directive
Commission chair Ben Henderson wrote that "the commission wishes to close the gap on the ambiguity of this document" and directed the chief to formalize the EPS media guidelines into a numbered policy or procedure. The commission also ordered police to clarify who within the organization makes decisions about revoking credentials and the subsequent appeals process. Kinney's lawyer, Tom Engel, called the outcome a victory after a four-year legal battle, stating: "We eventually forced them to come up with a policy, and then the commission went one step further — a few steps further — which is good."
Kinney's Legal Troubles
The media credential dispute overlaps with a criminal investigation into Kinney following the 2021 vandalism of two controversial Ukrainian military monuments. Kinney faces three mischief charges, with his trial scheduled to begin in October. At a pre-trial hearing, Engel told court that Kinney has undergone a "permanent career change" due to the accreditation fight, opting to pursue nursing work instead.
Previous Appeals and Policy Deficiencies
Kinney filed a complaint after the revocation, which led then-interim co-chief Devin Laforce to conclude in July 2023 that the policy was "deficient" regarding the revocation process. Laforce directed the media department to create an appeals process. Kinney appealed further, alleging that the media "guidelines" cited were "hastily created" after his accreditation was initially granted, with no clear author or approval date. He also claimed EPS conducted a "truncated" investigation that did not interview McFee or other decision makers.
The police commission did not address Kinney's claim that the revocation was arbitrary, but its directive aims to prevent future ambiguity in media accreditation policies.
