Suze Morrison is among the first-time legislators on their way to Queen’s Park. And while she says her work in the non-profit sector and on boards has primed her for the role, she does have a number of practical questions.

“Things like hiring staff, opening an office, who tells me where my seat in this house is, and where my office at Queen’s Park will be,” said Morrison, who won the Toronto Centre riding for the NDP.

Last week’s sweeping Progressive Conservative victory is bringing a massive influx of rookie MPPs to the Ontario Legislature. The group of 73 newcomers is the largest in 15 years, and more than four times bigger than the batch of successful rookies in the 2014 provincial election.

That wave of fresh faces holds both promise and the potential for pitfalls, experts say.

Penny Bryden, a history professor at the University of Victoria, said the fresh perspectives of new legislators presents an opportunity to deliver on the electorate’s desire for government to do things differently. At the same time, she said, newbies can be liabilities, in that inexperience often leads to gaffes and scandals.

“There’s a chance to think outside the box now,” Bryden said. “But then there’s the flip side of that, because nobody knows what they’re doing and therefore they make a lot of mistakes.”

Read more:

Doug Ford has lots of choices in assembling first PC government since 2003

With Doug Ford as premier, city braces for fight over supervised injection services

Opinion | Why Ontarians relate to Doug Ford and not his media critics

Premier-elect Doug Ford has no experience in provincial politics, Bryden noted, “so you’ve got the person who’s setting the tone not knowing what key it’s being played in. I think that will automatically suggest a higher likelihood of missteps.”

The Deputy Clerk’s office told the Star there will be two days of orientation for new MPPs in June and August, which will include training in administration and procedural affairs.

John Fraser, who was re-elected to represent Ottawa South last week, said finding one’s bearings in the job can be a “steep hill.”

Fraser, who was first elected in the 2013 byelection to replace Dalton McGuinty, said it took him about four months to get used to the job. “It’s a big change,” he said, from the complex policy work to the simpler challenges, like finding the washrooms.

Donna Skelly, another newcomer to provincial politics, became the sole PC MPP in an orange wave that took Hamilton last week – even her riding, Flamborough-Glanbrook, is brand new.

“I’m currently a city councillor and I think that there are many similarities in terms of constituency work, challenges, your obligations to the electorate,” she said, noting that she developed a thick skin as a broadcast journalist before working for the municipality.

“I’m very comfortable with any sort of criticism,” Skelly said, “but not everyone has the opportunity to develop a thick skin.”

An influx of new legislators is inevitable when a dynasty like the Ontario Liberal Party is defeated, said University of Toronto political science professor Nelson Wiseman. What is less predictable, he said, is how ready those newcomers are to be effective legislators.

“Some might not have been in the provincial legislature even as a tourist in their life,” Wiseman said. “Others may be very well-grounded in public policy, public administration. Some may have Grade 10 educations and some may have PhDs.”

Gilles Bisson has represented Timmins-James Bay since 1990, making him one of the three longest-serving members at Queen’s Park.

The NDP MPP said he’s seen turnover of nearly this scale before and while it can be disruptive, the challenges are fleeting. “When the Tories were ousted out of office some 15 years ago, there were a lot of new members elected, probably not as much as now, but people adjust,” he said.

Fraser, who has volunteered to help the latest batch of new MPPs make their way into the fold, said that whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran, the key to success is the same: serve the people who elected you.

“Never forget where you came from, who sent you, and why they sent you, which means all politics is local,” Fraser said, adding that, at its best, politics transcends party lines.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“That’s the most important thing a new [member] — and all members — should know.”

For Morrison, there’s comfort in all the good wishes she’s received. “There are definitely supports in place, through the party and the great staff that work at Queen’s Park,” she said.

“I know people have my back, and there’s experienced MPPs who’re going to support me in the role.”