IQALUIT - Nunavut's NDP candidate alleges a member of the Liberal campaign team solicited signatures for an election form in a territorial government office.

Jack Hicks said a member of his campaign team who works in a Government of Nunavut office was approached by campaign staff for Paul Okalik looking for signatures to fill an Elections Canada form requiring 50 electors to endorse his candidacy.

Okalik was the MLA for Iqaluit West and speaker of the legislative assembly until he resigned last week to run in the federal election.

"A co-worker went into the office soliciting signatures for Paul Okalik's election paperwork," Hicks said.

He said one of the workers who was asked to sign the form "was a strong supporter of mine. Another was a strong supporter of (Conservative candidate) Leona Aglukkaq. They both objected to having a fellow worker ask them to do this in their workplace."

The Public Service Act states all employees are prohibited from "engaging in any political activity for or on behalf of a territorial or federal political party or candidate during working hours or on duty travel."

Hicks said his campaign team spoke with deputy ministers, who responded that appropriate action would be taken.

"The point is to keep the workplace free of that kind of intimidation or tensions that could result from somebody feeling pressured to sign a campaign document or what the repercussions might be if they didn't," he said. "We don't want anything to necessarily happen to the person. We just want to make it clear to Mr. Okalik he should direct his campaign team to play by the rules. We want to ensure it doesn't happen again."

When contacted about the situation, Okalik said he was unaware of the allegation.

"I don't have any staff, to begin with," he said. "I have volunteers that canvass but I had no idea they were getting into any buildings. I will look into it and make sure that does not happen. When you don't know it's happening, you can't rectify it. It's just an allegation. I can't confirm at this time."

Hicks said he was satisfied by Okalik's response.

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