It will probably start well. As MPPs arrive at Queen's Park next Tuesday, things will take on the usual rhythm with the public expecting that the legislature will sit until the election is officially called in early May.

Don't be fooled: I guarantee you that, within a short period, all parties will be trying to figure out a way to end the session as quickly as possible.

Why? Because of one simple phenomenon – Ontario's relatively new fixed election law. In the past, majority governments could call an election at any time. Now every party knows exactly when the vote will take place. The result is a strange dynamic that I had the chance to witness as an MPP and minister in the lead up to the first fixed date election in 2011. And the common theme in almost every private conversation among members back then was: "When can we go home"?

You see, one of the dirtiest little secrets of Ontario politics is that, for many, time at Queen's Park is the least enjoyable part of being an MPP, particularly in the lead-up to an election. Oh sure, it is nice to see colleagues and not face angry constituents at the grocery store telling you what a horrible job you are doing. But being stuck in downtown Toronto also means being away from your local campaign. It means no door knocking, no going to community events, no meeting with your campaign team and no shaking hands and kissing babies.

And most frustrating of all, while you are sitting at Queen's Park, your unelected opponents are back home campaigning their little hearts out. I can remember fellow MPPs losing their minds when they learned that their opponent was holding a community meeting or being a guest on a popular local radio show while they were stuck in the legislature debating a private member's bill designating June as Left Handed Persons Appreciation month.

"Let us out of here" will be the most common refrain from all sides of the house as the weeks pass and party whips spend more and more of their time trying to prevent members facing a tough race from sneaking home and abandoning their duties at Queen's Park.

Of course, wrapping up the session early is not that easy.

Although the public has little idea how a member of provincial parliament fills his or her days, there is this belief that their main role is to sit in the legislature. In fact, if you want to drive an MPP crazy, refer to a legislative break as their "being on holiday." As a result, MPPs will be wary of any early exit strategy that makes them look lazy.

There are also practical considerations. Ontario presumably needs a budget and there is talk of legislation to counter “Buy American” policies being adopted by some American States. But most of the larger legislative groundwork has been laid. Measures are already in place to implement key parts of the government's election platform, such as the increased minimum wage, free tuition and the children and youth pharmacare program.

In fact, the big "leak" related to the upcoming legislative session involved a bill guaranteeing elevator reliability. Although I am sure it is an important issue, if that is the best that the government can do, you know that the heavy lifting is over.

The opposition parties also need to be careful. An early end to the legislative session means no more question periods and limited capacity to exploit any government scandal that arises. At the same time, in a world where a Trump Tweet can dominate the news cycle for days, how many are really paying attention to Ontario's question period?

The PCs face a particular challenge. With their party in apparent crisis, they need to put on at least a veneer of normalcy for the folks back home. But with everyone focused on their speedy leadership race, few Tory MPPs will want to spend hours debating the intricacies of elevators when they can be out plumping for their leadership candidate. And with none of the leadership candidates having seats in the Legislature, there will be even more reason to focus attention away from Queen's Park.

Ontario's three parties will undoubtedly find a way to wrap up the session quickly. It is amazing how the prospect of heading home early to undertake the fight of their political lives makes everyone much more cooperative.

So, my advice to observers as the new legislative session begins: don't get too comfortable.

John Milloy is a former MPP and Ontario Liberal cabinet minister currently serving as the director of the Centre for Public Ethics and assistant professor of public ethics at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, and the inaugural practitioner in residence in Wilfrid Laurier University's Political Science department. He is also a lecturer in the University of Waterloo's Master of Public Service Program.  John can be reached at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @John_Milloy. A version of this column was originally published in the online publication QP Briefing.