I think most politicians were waiting for this for a VERY long time. The sponsorship scandal gave it to them. "We need something to get these assholes on... wait, what's this? The sponsorship program is dirty? Well, this is it! Let's get them! Wait, you mean it's in Quebec? A Bloc province? And the problem was caused by Chretien? Who cares!? WE CAN TAKE DOWN THE LIBERALS!"

And the Tories sqwaked. And sqwaked. Sqwaked some more. And kept it up, until the rest of the country started believing them. Do this for a ocuple years, and you have a political climate that rivals America's for sheer mudslinging, and dirt.