The American Constitution's 14th amendment says this about equal protection of the law:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Seems pretty clear cut, but much legislation over the years has openly mocked this by allowing or even requiring "affirmative action" measures. But not any more: Congratulations, my American friends, the SCOTUS has rescued legal equality today. This is as important a ruling as Heller back 15 years ago.

Let's visit the Great White Up. The Canadian Charter's Section 15 says this about the same topic:

15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

Sounds about the same, right? But wait, there's more!

(2) Section (1) does not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration of conditions of disadvantaged individuals or groups including those that are disadvantaged because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

What's this? This is the clause that makes legal all kinds of "affirmative action" measures in government and elsewhere. As long as discrimination is done in order to help "disadvantaged" people, it's okay to advantage them. Because they're disadvantaged! (And note that the program need not actually be effective - it is enough to have good intent.) The head spins. Sorry, Canadian friends, until this is repealed or shamed out of the law, we're stuck with it.