There is a line here though. Remember when Kim Campbell ran ads showing Jean Chretien's face, a deformity he was born with. It back fired and the Tories were reduced to two seats from 264. They tread lightly here and the negative ads are usually third party, usually unions attacking the government. In Canada third party ads cannot endorse a particular candidate, only "discuss" issues, of the vehemence of the attacks are much less.