At the time of that Ontario event you mention, formerlyrbfromcalgary, there had been provision for consenting jews and catholics to have family law and inheritance disputes settled by arbitration under jewish/catholic law - with right of appeal to regular courts.  There was little if any controversy.

A provincial report by former attorney-general Marion Boyd recommended that this be extended to muslim law where both parties consented.  "We're being very clear: This is not sharia law," Ms. Boyd said. "This is Muslim religious principles within Canadian law."

That caused protests, which caused the government to back off - and cancel the jewish and catholic arbitration, too.