Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt began his working life in Canada with the British American Land Company in Lower Canada's Eastern Townships. Frustrated by the political deadlock in the united legislature of Canada East (Québec) and Canada West (Ontario), Galt first advocated annexation to the United States, but later worked for a federal union of the British North American colonies. After Confederation, Galt moved from electoral politics into diplomacy, while continuing to promote development in the Eastern Townships and later in southern Alberta.