According to a U.S. Congressman (as reported by The Globe and Mail), "South Toronto" is a hotbed of Islamic extremism.

I live here, and I'm afraid I don't know what part of T.O. that Rep. John Hostettler (R., Ind.) is referring to.

Unfortunately, Hostettler isn't a nobody. He's chairman of the immigration and border security committee.

Some excerpts:

"South Toronto, like those parts of London that are host to the radical imams who influenced the 9/11 terrorists and the shoe bomber, has people who adhere to a militant understanding of Islam," said John Hostettler, chairman of the House of Representatives subcommittee on immigration and border security, noting that Toronto has a very large South Asian community.

Later, when asked by reporters to describe "South Toronto" in greater detail, Mr. Hostettler said it was "a location which I understand is the type of enclave that allows for this radical type of discussion to go on." ...

It is fair to say that the Canadian border is virtually unguarded," Mr. Hostettler said. "Canadians, as well as those [who are] imposters pretending to be Canadians or returning American tourists, roll through our border ports of entry with little or no document inspections."

He said that the 17 terrorist suspects arrested in Toronto demonstrated "an unsuccessful adoption of traditional Canadian values."

"If we needed a clear case for why there needs to be a dramatic increase in security along the northern border . . . the example of this past week's terrorist arrests in Toronto is very dramatic," he said.

Mr. Hostettler's comments came during a hearing called to receive an update on plans to implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would require everybody crossing into the United States from Canada and Caribbean nations to carry a passport or secure identification by the start of 2008.

Later, he warned Canadians that the United States would not be as generous to its northern neighbours if there was another Sept. 11 attack, especially if there was any sign of a Canadian connection.

"Does Canada realize what will happen at the border?" he asked reporters. "The American people will require us to shut down the border."'

Here's some more juicy stuff:

Mr. Hostettler, a 44-year-old engineer who was first elected in 1995, is a stalwart of the Christian right and a fierce opponent of abortion and same-sex marriage. Last year, he accused Democratic members of Congress of "demonizing Christians" after a Wisconsin Democrat alleged that there was "abusive religious proselytizing" at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

He was arrested in 2004 when he was caught carrying a loaded handgun at Louisville, Ky., airport. He later pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and received a 60-day sentence, which he will not have to serve if he keeps out of trouble before August of this year.

The subcommittee reports to the U.S. House committee on the judiciary, which is chaired by James Sensenbrenner, an influential backer of tough anti-immigrant measures.

Mr. Hostettler's views were backed by several witnesses to the committee, including David Harris, an Ottawa lawyer and senior fellow at the Canadian Coalition for Democracies who used to work for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. He was the only Canadian asked to appear before the committee.

Mr. Harris described Canada as being "heavily infiltrated by terrorists" as well as "a recruiting, planning, financing and launch point for international terrorism."