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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - While premiers from across Canada gathered in Montreal on Monday for a special meeting to discuss the growing global economic crisis, the NWT's Premier Floyd Roland stayed home.

Roland was in the legislative assembly Monday while multi-million dollar projects in his riding - such as a new $110 million school in Inuvik - were debated and discussed. Yet he did not pipe up once to defend or comment on any of the projects.

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay said he was disappointed to learn the premier chose not to go to Montreal. Roland and the Nunavut premier, Paul Okalik, who is running for re-election, were the only two not to attend the meeting.

The conference was given by the Council of the Federation, established by Canada's premiers in 2003 to discuss country-wide issues.

"As a territory we fought long and hard to get a seat at the table and I'm wondering why we're not there," said Ramsay.

"There are a number of reasons why (Roland) should be there and I think it's odd that our premier is not there."

While Ramsay acknowledged the legislative assembly is in its final week before breaking until the new year and still needs to complete a line-by-line reading of the government's capital spending budget, he pointed out Roland is no longer finance minister and could have delegated certain tasks to his deputy premier for the day.

Ramsay said he would have liked to see Roland raise issues such as the cost of living in the territory if Canada hits a recession and the possibility of the three territories becoming tax exempt, if so.

"There are a number of reasons why he should be there," he said.

"There are some things going on here, especially in Roland's riding in Inuvik. That's probably why he stuck around ... If that's the reason why he's not in Montreal representing the territory then I have some difficulty with that," he added.

Roland said he did opt out of the conference in favour of attending the ongoing capital budget discussion at the legislative assembly.

"The mood in the house left me concerned," he said.

"When we've got our budget process going through the house, and the motions that are starting to come out, I felt I needed to have my attention here rather than (Montreal)."

Roland said he has made efforts to receive updates from Quebec premier Jean Charest, who is chairing the council.

"I think we're okay," he said.

"They're not my projects. These are projects that are on the capital plan," Roland added, referring to projects in Inuvik up for discussion.

Nevertheless the premier did not deny premiers' conferences are of value to the territory.

"At those tables we have the ears of other premiers and can raise our situations," he said.