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Or sign-in if you have an account.Chris Alexander, seen here during the Conservative Party of Canada leadership debate in 2017, has joined the race to become Toronto's next mayor. Photo by Ben Nelms/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesThe race to become Toronto’s next mayor is welcoming a late and potentially game-breaking candidate in former Conservative federal cabinet minister and long-time diplomat Chris Alexander.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe 57-year-old, once Canada’s ambassador to Afghanistan (2003-2005) and an immigration minister under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, had been rumoured to be considering a run and informally launched his bid with a campaign website on Tuesday night.“I’m running because Toronto has been standing still for three years,” it reads.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“A city with this much talent, strength and potential should not be under-performing. We need to work together to make Toronto better — the best it can be.”Alexander is expected to register his candidacy this morning at City Hall, per CBC, at which point he’ll become the 33rd person seeking the mayor’s job.While the field is crowded, polling indicates that, until now, the electorate has focused on two candidates — incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow and Coun. Brad Bradford seeking to usurp her.A poll conducted last week and released after Alexander’s announcement showed Chow leading by eight points among decided and leaning voters.“Among all voters, Chow is at 39 per cent, Bradford is at 33 per cent, someone else is at eight per cent, and 20 per cent are undecided,” according to a Liaison Strategies Toronto Pulse survey of 1,000 Torontonians between July 24-26.More to come.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.