They were not just handed the files, they invested time and money by partnering with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (as well as the CBC). 

"For eight months, journalists on six continents have quietly pored through the documents, shared insights, conducted hundreds of interviews, approached those whose records were leaked in search of their comment and prepared hundreds of stories that will begin being published and broadcast today."

"CBC/Radio Canada and the Toronto Star analyzed thousands of addresses and names contained in that data to match offshore entities with their parent company using a unique address code assigned by Appleby...finding at least one of the following within the data: a mailing, residential or business address in Canada; a Canadian passport number; or Appleby's direct reference to a Canadian birthplace or nationality."

Your dismissive comment is sad.