The provincial government has called an election to fill Saskatoon Northwest’s MLA seat yesterday.

The byelection, set for Oct. 18, will ensure all seats in legislature are full when the fall sitting begins, though Premier Brad Wall had a six month window in which to call the election.

The seat has been open since Saskatchewan Party MLA Serge LeClerc resigned Sept. 1 due to allegations of illegal drug use — which he denies.

With the currently empty seat, there are 37 Saskatchewan Party members and 20 New Democrats in legislature.

Gord Wyant, a Saskatoon city councillor, will be running for the incumbent Sask party. Jan Dyky and lawyer Manny Sonnenshein will run for the NDP and Progressive Conservatives, respectively.