Qualitative follow-up analysis
SAID
Following the completion of our study, the Status of Women Council of the NWT conducted follow-up phone calls with participants who did not respond to the email invitation. Out of 208 participants who did not respond to the invitation, the Council was able to make direct contact with 47 participants. These participants were asked why they did not respond to the email invitation, resulting in qualitative data that was examined for common themes and used to understand why participants did not respond. In descending order of frequency, participants responded that they were: (1) not available on the briefing date/time and didn’t know there were alternative dates/times; (2) out of office on travel for their job; (3) couldn’t attend due to last-minute changes in priorities; (4) not available because the briefings were scheduled during the NWT land hunting season; and (5) their emails were monitored by an assistant who didn’t have the authority to accept or decline on the participant’s behalf (Yellowknife City Councillors only).In addition to the follow-up phone calls, several participants reached out to the Council throughout the course of the study to provide anecdotal, positive responses. One community councillor who attended the briefing felt that these issues were very important and should be brought up at a community level. One participant noted that they were “really glad you guys are offering this, and [I] have recommended it to my teammates.” Another participant who declined the email invitation but said they had “taken GBA+ (Gender-based Analysis Plus) and it changed how I consider policymaking. I am glad you are doing this.” Another participant, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who didn’t respond to the invitation, directly reached out to the Council to say that anytime the Council wants to bring anything related to the legislature, the MLA would be willing to sponsor it. The Council also received several direct requests for additional information, training and support for gender equity assistance because of this study.