A dead letter law is one that remains on the books but can be ignored because it is not enforced; this includes legislation that has not been repealed but has fallen into disuse or irrelevance with the passage of time. However, a recent study by the Aristotle Foundation suggests that Section 15(1) of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedom may be comparable to dead letter law in university appointment processes because individual equality and freedom from discrimination are sidelined in the interests of affirmative action.