Brad Wall out with a bang

Photo: The Canadian Press

Premier Brad Wall speaks with members of the media following the 2017 budget speech at the Legislative Building in Regina Wednesday, March 22, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

Brad Wall launched into one more blistering attack on the Opposition NDP as his Saskatchewan Party prepares to name his successor.

On his way out after 10 years as premier, Wall delivered one last podium-pounding speech, taking aim at the Opposition party in his province and the governing New Democrats next door in Alberta.

He blasted Alberta's government for running a $10 billion deficit with no immediate plan to pay it back and he warned the NDP in Saskatchewan would do the same.

At the same time he heralded his government's achievements around economic development and population growth, as well as its steadfast resistance to a carbon tax called for by the federal Liberal government.

Wall enjoyed unbridled economic and political success throughout much of his tenure as premier, leading his Saskatchewan Party to three straight majority governments.

He has always placed at or near the top of polls ranking the country's most popular political leaders.

But the province's fortunes have changed as resource prices dipped in recent years, pushing public spending into the red.

Wall surprised many in August when he announced he was calling it quits as public anger was lingering over an austerity budget that both raised taxes and made deep spending cuts.

Four former provincial cabinet ministers and a senior civil servant are seeking the job.

The front-runners to replace him are widely thought to be former advanced education and environment minister Scott Moe, the premier's former deputy minister Alanna Koch and Ken Cheveldayoff, who has served in different cabinet portfolios since the Saskatchewan Party formed government in 2007.

Observers have pegged former justice minister Gord Wyant and former social services minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor as long shots.