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As it turned out, 2017 was the last stand for Premier Brad Wall.

One wonders if his Saskatchewan Party government will now crumble.

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It would seem unlikely.

What 2017 also taught us — or more specifically, what the leadership race to replace Wall has so far taught us — is that the Sask. Party still remains very strong in the rural areas. Exactly how many of the Sask. Party’s 27,125 members are rural constituents remains unknown, but common wisdom suggests a significant majority.

That said, it was likely no coincidence that a May poll showing Wall trailing the NDP for the first time since he was first selected leader in 2004 came after the terribly unkind 2017-18 Saskatchewan budget.

Prudent spending — even in times of largess, when there were dollars to be thrown around — was never exactly Wall’s strength. Not nearly enough has been said about his departure from office with a record $17.9-billion public debt (as of this month’s release of the 2017-18 mid-year update) and without a Sovereign Wealth/Heritage Fund that would have helped Saskatchewan get through tough years like this one.