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Liberals – Don’t quit taking risks. With pleasing poll numbers and the sure knowledge that opponents will be hunting for Trudeau’s head, it will be tempting to start to play things safe. Campaign strategists will naturally seek to limit the likelihood of self-inflicted wounds and shield against unforced errors. But this sort of thinking can become self-defeating. From legalization of pot to vanquishing his entire Senate caucus, Trudeau has shown a flair for the unexpected. Such audaciousness was needed to drag his party out of the meteor crater it was left in after the 2011 election. It is needed still.

Seats count more than polls. And for now the Liberals remain the third party. Trudeau and his team will need to take one or two more risks at least in the coming session to keep the pressure on their opponents and fortify his image as a vehicle for change. The best way to defend a lead is to play like you’re losing. Team Trudeau’s slogan of ‘Hope and Hard Work’ is built on the premise that they haven’t won anything yet.

New Democrats – Don’t forget the Left. In the Ontario election, Andrea Horwath went looking for Liberal voters and forgot to mind her own. The result was disaster. Tom Mulcair cannot afford to repeat her mistake – even if that means sacrificing his hopes of growing the NDP voter coalition to government-sized proportions.

The dream of those who supported Jack Layton was that a modern New Democratic Party might seize the centre from the Liberals and transform Canada into a binary political state. For now, that dream must be paused. The Trudeau name is tempting to progressives and Mulcair competes poorly with his Liberal counterpart’s charisma. At this week’s national caucus Mulcair signalled that he will go after the Liberal leader with at least as much ferocity as the Conservatives. During the coming session he’ll need to show dyed-in-the-wool lefties that he will go after them also. There can be no taking his left flank for granted.

Three parties. Three Don’ts. And 12 months. The new session of Parliament gives each leader time to fix one big thing. We’ll know by Christmas if they’ve used it well.

Scott Reid is a principal at Feschuk.Reid and a CTV News political analyst. He was director of communications for former prime minister Paul Martin. Follow him on Twitter.com/_scottreid.