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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Some call them mental health days; others, less charitably, skipping out, malingering, or just plain goofing off.

Whatever the label, absenteeism stresses businesses large and small, placing a strain on those left to shoulder the added burden.

The same goes for the legislative assembly of the Northwest Territories and its committees.

When he was under fire earlier this year for not keeping regular members in the communications loop, Premier Floyd Roland upbraided MLAs for less than perfect attendance records, especially at meetings of standing committees where the government first lays out its plans.

"Some committees are small and when members are absent it puts an extra load on those who attend and can result in a duplication of effort when those who are away want information on what they missed," said Speaker Paul Delorey, who reports on the attendance of members.

The MLA for Hay River North, Delorey and Sandy Lee were the only members of the NWT legislative assembly with a perfect attendance record over the past 14 months.

Except for the disapproval of voters on election day, Delorey said there are no penalties for missing meetings or failing to attend every day of the legislature is in session.

The latest report on attendance tabled in the legislature covers the period between October 2007 and February this year.

Most often absent from committee meetings was Jackie Jacobson, Nanakput, who offered up the full range of reasons for missing 35 days: illness, injury, bereavement, personal reasons or reasons outside his control, and his duties as an MLA.

In an interview with News/North, Jacobson made no apologies for his absenteeism and said the report is misleading in the way it presents information.

"The way it's reported, it's easy to confuse missed meetings with missed days," said Jacobson, who missed 43 meetings and sessions of the assembly.

"My wife was sick and I'm the only one available to care for our nine children," Jacobson said, "and then I got sick, with bronchitis and pneumonia."

"I'm here for my people, but my family is my priority," said Jacobson, adding that constituents are pleased with his efforts and he has yet to hear any complaints about his performance.

"We're in a recession, and I have 80 to 100 people working on building the access road. I had a meeting (earlier this month) and there were no complaints."