Justin Trudeau’s effect on the Ontario election, the Ontario election’s effect on Trudeau

There was more than one Liberal on election night in Ontario boasting about the Justin Trudeau-effect.

"The Liberals are back in the game," Liberal MP John McKay told CP24 at the campaign headquarters

"You know Mr. Trudeau campaigned in Nova Scotia, he won. He campaigned in Quebec - they won. He campaigned here in Ontario, they won. So, I think there is a potential effect on the federal scene."

While Trudeau didn't really campaign in Quebec, there are some Liberals who feel that he's been a game-changer in terms of revitalizing the Liberal brand across the country.

While Trudeau has seemingly buoyed the fortunes of the Liberals in other provinces, there were certainly other factor at play in Ontario.

[ Related: Tweeted photos of completed Ontario election ballots could net fines up to $5,000 ]

The more important question looking forward, however, is how will the Ontario election affect Justin Trudeau's federal Liberals -- and the Conservatives for that matter -- in the 2015 federal campaign.

Firstly, in terms of campaign strategy, the Stephen Harper Conservatives have undoubtidly paid attention to the fact that a move to the right in terms of policy is doomed for failure in the province of Ontario.

They might also find solace in that Ontarians were forgiving of the Liberal scandals: They forgave the provincial Grits about the gas plant fiasco, they might look past the Senate scandals?

For the Liberals, they'd be wise to follow Wynne's campaign strategy of appealing to the middle class' anxiety of trying to make ends meet. The ballot box issue certainly wasn't about debts and deficits and tax cuts, it was about making life more affordable for families in the here and now.

[ Related: Hudak's resignation after election defeat comes as no surprise ]

While Trudeau was elated on Thursday evening, calling the election a "historic moment for the province," he probably should be a little concerned.

There's a school of thought that Ontarians don't want the same party in Ottawa that they have on Parliament Hill.

History clearly illustrates that there's a pattern there.

The only times a Liberal victory in Ontario was followed by a Liberal victory federally was 1934/1935 and 2003/2004 respectively.

The Toronto Star's Tim Harper articulates how the federal Conservatives might take advantage of that historical trend.

"Ontario election foretells next year’s federal campaign, when Conservatives will try to paint Justin Trudeau as a Wynne-style profligate spender," he wrote.

Can't you just imagine the attack ads?

(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)

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