Scott Moe will be the province's next premier, winning the Saskatchewan Party leadership convention Saturday to replace Brad Wall. Optimism isn't the theme of the opposition NDP reaction.

The NDP interim leader, Nicole Sarauer, as well as the two candidates vying for party leadership, Trent Wotherspoon and Ryan Meili, all three wished him well, but spoke about Moe having a role in the March, 2017 budget that saw a lot of cuts in spending.

"I hope that he's listened to some of the voices that we've heard loud and clear during the leadership race," said Sarauer. "It's very similar to what we've been hearing on the doorstep. People who are frustrated with the tax hikes, frustrated with the cuts to education and healthcare in particular, and want to stand up for our Crowns... this is an individual who was at the decision-making table during the last budget. He - along with the other candidates - voted for a budget which had very real, very devestating impacts on Saskatchewan families."

Wotherspoon sent a congratulatory message to Moe on Saturday, saying he wants to work with the premier designate wherever possible. But on Sunday Wotherspoon shared the same sentiment as Sarauer on Moe being at the table during budget deliberations that saw cuts to classrooms and the selling off of the STC.

"It really hit the most vulnerable in a calous and damaging way. So we're going to be ready to fight for the people in the province we love, and we'll be working to replace Scott Moe and the Sask Party in two years time."

Meili found the process of how Moe became the new Saskatchewan Party leader interesting.

"There wasn't really a clear leader that emerged in terms of the original rounds, and there was such division. He came with only 26 per cent at the beginning and needed multiple rounds to get there, so a question of how united that party is right now, so that'll be really interesting to see how well they're able to come together."

Meili also said he doesn't expect to see any "significant changes" with a Moe government, as he was part of the Saskatchewan Party's "austerity approach."

The NDP leadership convention is on March 3.