Former immigration minister Chris Alexander considering run for Toronto mayor

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander speaks to the media in Toronto on Saturday, September 19, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

A former Conservative cabinet minister says he’s “seriously” considering a run for Toronto mayor.

Chris Alexander confirmed to CTV News Friday that he’s thinking about a mayoral run, but hasn’t made a decision “yet.”

“A number of people and organizations in this city for which I have enormous respect have asked me to, and I don’t take that lightly,” he said in an email.

Alexander was elected as the Conservative candidate for Ajax-Pickering in 2011 as part of former prime minister Stephen Harper’s majority government.

He served as Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from 2013 to 2015.

If Alexander does decide to run, he’ll join 26 other candidates vying for the city’s top job, including current Mayor Olivia Chow and her main challenger Coun. Brad Bradford. The deadline to enter the race is Aug. 21.

Alexander, who’s spent most of his career as a civil servant, added that people who he respects came to him and said Toronto needs a mayor who is “willing to be honest about what’s not working and serious about fixing it.”

“That’s a conversation I couldn’t ignore,” he wrote. Alexander did not reveal which individuals or groups are championing his potential candidacy.

Torontonians will head to the polls on Oct. 26.