Duncan Kinney
Quick Facts
Biography
Duncan Kinney (born 1982 or 1983) is an Edmonton-based Canadian journalist and activist. He is the founder and executive director of Progress Alberta and the editor of The Progress Report.
Early life and education
Kinney was born in 1982 or 1983 and grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and has a bachelor's degree in communications and journalism from Mount Royal University.
Career
Kinney founded Progress Alberta in 2016, and works as the organizations executive director. He is also the editor of the left-wing media outlet The Progress Report. At The Progress Report, Kinney oversees a newsletter, a podcast, and investigative reporting.
Activism, views, allegations
In 2015, Kinney called upon the Alberta government to meet its promise to reduce methane output by 45% by 2025. In June 2021, Kinney satirically ran for the Senate of Canada, despite being a senate abolitionist.
Kinney is a long-time critic of Edmonton Police Service, having criticised their budget, their use of armoured vehicles and their actions removing homeless camps. In March 2022, the police revoked Kinney's press credentials.
On October 14, 2022, Kinney was charged with mischief and appeared in court on November 10, 2022 in relation to allegations that he vandalised the Roman Shukhevych statue in Edmonton. Kinney is accused of spray painting “Nazi monument” and “14th Waffen SS” on the statue outside the Edmonton’s Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex during August 2021. Kinney had previously reported on the vandalism, which he wrote was undertaken by an "unknown person or persons". In March 2023, Kinney pleaded not guilty to the charges. In May 2023, Kinney's lawyer complained that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith spoke about his trial during an election debate.
In mid February 2023, Kinney submitted a complaint about Edmonton Police Services, claiming that officers assaulted him during a news conference. Later the same month, an investigation cleared police Edmonton Police commissioner Anne Stevenson of trying to influence a police investigation into Kinney.
In May 2023, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith falsely accused Kinney of painting a swastika on the monument and stated that he pleaded guilty to the charges. Smith apologised for both errors in August 2023.
Personal life
Kinney moved from Calgary to Edmonton around 2009.