The Globe and Mail

December 1, 2008: "I support the [coalition] accord because it's fiscally responsible, it provides responsible economic leadership in tough times and it also conserves the basic principles of national unity, equality, that our party has always believed in." — Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff

May 10, 2009: "There was also a question concerning the legitimacy of the coalition that troubled me." And: "I felt it was very difficult to guarantee the necessary political stability during a time of crisis with three partners in a formal coalition," he said. "That was my first doubt. I couldn't guarantee the long-term stability of the coalition under the circumstances." — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff

Illustration by Anthony Jenkins / The Globe and Mail.