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At the time, Steinley was the Regina—Walsh Acres incumbent.

Public disclosure of the names followed a request from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix for all parties to provide a list of candidates with criminal records, along with their policies on candidates with criminal records.

Saskatchewan Party executive director Patrick Bundrock said on Thursday that Steinley disclosed to the party back in 2015 — when he filed his candidate papers — that he had both a past conviction and a subsequent pardon for drinking and driving.

Bundrock said Steinley wasn’t included in the party’s 2016 public disclosure because he had no criminal record at that point.

“We made a decision to disclose the candidates who had a criminal record,” Bundrock said.

“But Mr. Steinley received a pardon. He had no criminal record. So that’s why he was not included in our group, and also because he provided the party at the time of his filing with a criminal record check that showed no criminal record … We believe that we disclosed what we were asked. We disclosed those candidates who had a conviction for drinking and driving on their record.”

Bundrock said Steinley was “very open and honest” when he shared his past conviction, given it wasn’t present during his criminal record check.

The three Sask. Party candidates included now-Premier Scott Moe — convicted in 1992 — Eric Olauson and Terry Dennis. The Saskatchewan Party said Moe, Olauson and Dennis disclosed their convictions to the party before becoming candidates.