Does the government actually "sanction" the tribunals or does it simply refrain from banning them?
From what I read, these religious tribunals are regulated just like any other private arbitration agencies. Like any other arbitration board, if what I have read is correct, a religious tribunal must be licensed by the provincial government. Thus, one would conclude that the objective of the anti-Sharia protesters here is to ask the government to deny permission to the Islamic arbitrators (which IMHO strikes one as rather prejudicial, when one is allowing arbitration for other religions).
That's absolutely right. Ideally, the state would only recognize "civil unions," and pay no attention to the word "marriage." The word would be one defined by society, and not by the government.
Thus, if there are any church tribunals, they would only be private religious bodies, rather than quasi-official organizations whose decisions have legal ramifications.
