Sarah Climenhaga, a local community activist who ran and lost in the race to succeed incumbent Mayor John Tory as the city’s chief executive last fall, has announced a campaign for federal office in Toronto-St. Paul’s.

On Friday, Climenhaga said on Twitter that she had received the nomination of the Green Party of Canada to run in the Midtown riding, which has a population of more than 100,000 and contains neighbourhoods, such as Forest Hill and St. Clair West.

“It’s official: I’ll be running for the @CanadianGreens in my home riding of St. Paul’s in the next federal election,” she tweeted. “Great questions and discussions from community members about transitioning to an economy that sustains and enhances life on this planet. #missionpossible.”

In an interview with the Star, Climenhaga said that her platform will centre around the environment and the growing threat of climate change, adding that many issues such as the economy are closely tied to the environment.

Once the writ drops, Climenhaga will face off against incumbent Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, who has represented the riding since 1997 and won her last election with over 50 per cent of the vote. When asked about her chances of beating the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Climenhaga said she was confident.

Climenhaga is the second former mayoral candidate to announce a run for federal office in the upcoming elections. Saron Gebresellassi, a human rights lawyer, is vying for the New Democratic Party nomination in the downtown riding of Parkdale—High Park. In the mayoral election, Climenhaga finished sixth, well-behind Tory and former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat.

Correction - June 4, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett won her last election with roughly 40 per cent of the vote. In fact, she won the last election with over 50 per cent of the vote.

Ilya Bañares is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @ilyaoverseas

Read more about: