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Of the 36 candidates running for a spot on Saskatoon city council, only two say they have been convicted of a criminal offence.

Ward 2 candidate Kelly Parker said he was convicted of drunk driving in 1981, but has since received a pardon for the offence. Parker added he has not consumed alcohol for 30 years.

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Another Ward 2 candidate, Robert Godfrey, said he was convicted in a drunk driving collision in 2014. He also said he has been convicted of marijuana possession, but declined to specify how many times.

The criminal histories of political candidates became an issue during the spring provincial election campaign, when it was revealed that five candidates had been convicted of impaired driving.

Those candidates included former Saskatoon city councillor Eric Olauson, who was convicted in 1992 and 1993. Olauson was elected in the Saskatoon University riding.

More recently, former deputy premier Don McMorris pleaded guilty to drunk driving last month. He was booted from cabinet by Premier Brad Wall after the charge was laid.

Wall has said he plans to consider tougher penalties for impaired driving and will make changing the culture of drinking and driving in the province a focus of the next session of the legislature.

ptank@postmedia.com

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