A Manitoba MLA has had taxpayers cover more than $44,000 in his constituency office expenses, even though his constituency office doesn't exist.

According to MLA expense forms, NDP MLA Jim Maloway racked up operating expenses worth $44,722.82 -- $20,000 more than the average MLA.

The 22-year veteran Elmwood MLA doesn't have an office.

"It's just a more I think reasonable and creative way of using the funds," he said when confronted with the information by CTV's Kevin Armstrong. "My caucus staff went through and they double checked to make sure that we are okay."

MLA's are not required to have a constituency office.

Maloway said an office itself was a waste of money, so he decided to spend his allowance in other ways.

CTV News found out how.

Phone bill dialed in at $1340.48

Invoices surfaced the politician had three cell phones. One bill totaled $1340.48 for one month. Maloway said he needed one of the phones when he went out of the country. He says he has just one phone now.

Other invoices show more than $9,000 in advertising costs. The average MLA spends about $5,000 in advertising.

Maloway says he spent the money to try to save the Kelvin Community Centre.

Campaign funding confusing

Another $463 dollar expense was allocated for the Jim Maloway campaign, even though MLA's can't use their office funds for campaign expenses.

Maloway said there might have been some confusion between his office and an advertiser.

He says next year's fiscal report won't raise any questions. He plans to open a constituency office.

Call for audit, new regulations

All Maloway's spending was cleared by the government.

A situation Adrienne Batra of the Canadian Tax Payers Federation calls "a bit concerning."

Batra has drafted a letter to the Auditor General, requesting a full value for money audit of all Maloway's expenses dating back 3 years.

Batra says there should also be new regulations.

"Very few details are given when it comes to providing a full cost analysis to where the money is going," she said. "What we are asking the Manitoba legislature to do is start giving a full itemized account of where the money is going."

The federal government and provincial governments in Ontario and Alberta already have similar policies in place.