In this occasional feature, two Torontoist staffers face off to debate an issue that is important to our city. We invite our readers to join in the debate in the comments section after the post. In October of 2006, Maclean’s magazine published an excerpt from writer Mark Steyn’s book, America Alone, which argued that demographics and the failures of liberal society were inevitably leading to the Islamization of Europe. Subsequently a group of Muslim students......

In a grudging acknowledgement that Canadians are still entitled to some measure of freedom of speech, the Ontario Human Rights Commission dismissed a complaint against Maclean's magazine for articles critical of Islamic fundamentalism, saying the Commission had no jurisdiction over print. However, the Commission—whose members are not required to have training in law, journalism, or, um, anything, really—did say that the articles caused "serious harm" to society with their "destructive, xenophobic opinions." That's nice.......

Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty emphasized that today's budget will be "frugal" in anticipation of an economic slowdown in the coming year. To demonstrate the concept in symbolic terms, Flaherty had an old pair of shoes resoled instead of buying the pair of new shoes traditionally associated with budgets. Flaherty also announced that he's saving money on undergarments by going "commando," although to be fair that gesture is more about sexiness than symbolism. A......

Provincial Conservative leader John Tory, battling to stay employed in the face of disaffected fellow partiers who want to hold a leadership review next month, says in a letter on his website that he has travelled the province listening to members and coming up with ideas to address their concerns. The Tories are lucky; a leader who also had a job as an MPP probably wouldn't have time for stuff like that. Provincial education......

Rarely does a Toronto murder get such visceral international attention. As you have probably heard by now, Aqsa Parvez (pictured at right), Grade 11 Applewood Heights Secondary School student, was killed by her father, allegedly (according to the girl's friends) because she fought with him over whether to wear a hijab. The news is as big in the States as it is here, with CNN and MSNBC both running stories for a hungry audience. If......

It seems only fitting that the oft-sententious Conrad Black should choose a book launch to make a surprise visit back to Toronto. Quillblog has details and photos of Black at the launch of his friend George Jonas's book Reflections on Islam last night, at Massey College at the University of Toronto. Black, currently on trial for fraud in Chicago, "noted that the reception he received from the attendees was warmer than he was used......

Liberals furious over Stephen Harper's suggestion that they care more about Taliban prisoners than Canadian troops. Stéphane Dion demanded an apology, which of course led Harper to then go to the "you don't support the troops enough" well again. Torontoist would like to thank Stephen Harper for confirming, once and for all, that he is a major-league douchebag. In other parliamentary news, Liberal MP Joe Comuzzi fired from caucus after he promises to vote......

David Suzuki, Green Avenger and Captain of Awesome, says that Torontonians have the right to know what pollutants are in the air we're breathing. 75% of the industrial pollution in our urban air is not being disclosed to the public! Save us, Suzuki! Air Canada is no longer flying to India, a move which business leaders around the city say will harm Indo-Canadian business relationships. Services to India were cancelled to boost service to......

Shanghaiist probably knows a little more about China than the Chicago Sun-Times. Giving them the benefit of the doubt on that one. The city does to have a music scene. Don't even front like they don't. They also have Dorito bananas and white guys shopping for wives. What they don't have is any more tolerance for jaywalkers. Bostonist sees Boston and Somerville each whip out their art and face off. A plagiarized novel is the......