Iqaluit West MLA Paul Okalik, seen speaking in the legislative assembly last week, was reprimanded for violating the Integrity Act. (CBC)

Iqaluit West MLA and former premier Paul Okalik apologized to his fellow MLAs Monday for allowing his re-election campaign team to solicit donations from top government bureaucrats.

The apology came after members voted 11-3 in favour of accepting the report by integrity commissioner Norman Pickell, who concluded that Okalik violated the territory's Integrity Act during the October 2008 general election campaign.

Pickell said it was inappropriate for Okalik's campaign staff to send letters to deputy ministers asking them for financial donations while Okalik was still premier.

Iqaluit Centre MLA Hunter Tootoo, who had asked Pickell to investigate the case last year, put forward the motion Monday to accept the commissioner's report. The motion was seconded by Cambridge Bay MLA Keith Peterson.

"Referring to the integrity commissioner, he has to investigate and make a report. That's what he's done," Tootoo said in the legislature.

"He's taken the allegations, he's asked both parties for their input on those allegations, he's done his investigation based on the information that has been provided to him, and he's come to the conclusion that he's outlined in the report."

Rules weren't clear: Okalik

Before the vote took place, Okalik told MLAs it was unfair that he was treated differently because he was still premier during the election.

He added that the territory's election legislation was not clear on the issue of donations.

"I do not blame anyone, as all of us were following the Elections Act, which states clearly that any campaign is entitled to seeking donations and contributions from anyone in Nunavut or from those businesses that are carrying out their work in Nunavut," Okalik said.

"Our Elections Act is no different than [that of] other governments elsewhere in our country."

After serving nine years as the premier of Nunavut, Okalik was returned as MLA for Iqaluit West in the Oct. 27, 2008, election, but then lost the contest for the premier's job to Eva Aariak.

The three MLAs who voted against accepting Pickell's report were Tagak Curley, James Arvaluk and Louis Tapardjuk, while Baker Lake MLA Moses Apaluktuq abstained.

Curley did support a suggestion that no election candidates should be allowed to seek campaign donations from deputy ministers.

Pickell made the suggestion because in Nunavut's consensus system of government, any elected MLA could become premier.

"In my view, the Elections Act should be clear," Curley said.

"It should mark that deputy ministers should not be solicited for funds or contributions, not only by the premier but by all candidates. That I would understand."

MLAs Enuk Pauloosie and Adamee Komoartok were absent from the legislature.

With files from Patricia Bell