Steen was executive assistant for Manitoba Minister of Agriculture George Hutton from 1962 to 1963.
[2] He was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in a 1975 by-election in the central Winnipeg riding of Crescentwood,[1] defeating Liberal leader Charles Huband[3] by 169 votes (the former MLA, New Democrat Harvey Patterson, finished third).
Two years later, in the general election of 1977, he retained the seat against New Democrat Muriel Smith by 72 votes, with Huband dropping to third place.
The Progressive Conservatives won this election, although Premier Sterling Lyon did not invite Steen to join his cabinet.
The NDP defeated the PC government in the 1981 election, although ironically Steen was re-elected in the riding of River Heights by an increased majority.