As of December 2016, there were 1,612 filled positions, among which 30 per cent were women. That fits with the fact between 2000 and 2015, 31 per cent of applicants for the jobs were from women.

so, there's no actual issue, then. this is just political interference.

and, in fact, i believe it is potentially an abuse of power.

s. 15 has a clause for affirmative action; it would be farcical to use it in context, even if the numbers weren't proportionally representative.

these kinds of things move in pendulum shifts. the day that you start demanding that scientists fit a gender or ethnic quota is the day the pendulum has swung too far, and needs to swing back. hopefully, the court sees the issue correctly, and is able to properly apply s. 15 to block this political interference and abuse of power. but, we need some brave lawyers to step up, first.