Columbia River Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says Premier Christy Clark's new cabinet has some surprises and a much needed reduction in size.

But he has one message for the new Premier -get to work, call back the Legislature and get MLA's working on the real problems facing British Columbia.

First the surprises. Macdonald says the biggest surprise to him would be that perennial Liberal Minister Colin Hansen is not in cabinet.

"I guess it signals his retirement," Macdonald said. "Maybe his is the safe seat for Christy Clark. He has denied that, but there are rumours."

However former premier Gordon Campbell officially resigned his seat in the riding of Vancouver-Point Grey Tuesday, clearing the way for Clark to call a byelection in the riding and run for a seat in the legislature from that area as well.

Another surprise is Blair Lekstrom, not his return to caucus, but his return to cabinet. Lekstrom who quit cabinet and caucus last year over the HST, gets the Transportation Ministry.

"I think there will be some members whose noses will be out of joint over that," Macdonald said. "HST concerns were the issue and they have not been resolved, so for him to be pulled into cabinet, many will be unhappy."

A little closer to home MLA Bill Bennett said this week he hoped to return to caucus as well.

"I have no expectation that Bill Bennett will get into cabinet," Macdonald said. "Certainly he'll be trying to get back into caucus and I believe they will take him in hopes of holding the seat."

Macdonald says there is no question in his mind that there will be an election relatively soon. "She said as a leadership candidate that she didn't have a mandate. It is untenable. She has no mandate. Mr. Campbell was pushed out because he wasn't clear on what he was going to do. She's going to have to seek a mandate.

Macdonald said that while there are fewer cabinet ministers, there are quite a few parliamentary secretaries, so the cabinet is not as downsized as it may look at first glance.

"At first blush the ministry organization looked good but there are still a lot of question marks."

But most importantly, get back to work.

"She's got her cabinet now. They need to get to work. We need an inquiry into BC Rail, we need a budget and the HST needs to be sorted out. She needs to call the house back."