The social sciences have been prominent in demonstrating that the legislative approach of the early years to systemic discrimination was erroneous insofar as the individual and intentional foundation of this phenomenon is concerned. Sociological studies have identified sources and socio-cultural effects that have brought to light the collective and perceptual dimensions of a phenomenon that proves to be social and complex before it is individual. Further, an overview of the major decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada shows the legal evolution of the notion of discrimination itself toward recognition of a singular concept with variables that are simple or multiple, homogeneous or complex, but above all inseparable. This article concludes with a brief presentation of the systemic approach, an analytical framework for complex phenomena introduced as a useful and pertinent tool in the study of situations involving discrimination.