How did politicians from Canada West contribute to Canadian Confederation in 1867?

Politicians from Canada West played a pivotal role in the movement toward Canadian Confederation by addressing the political instability and economic challenges facing the Province of Canada during the 1860s.12

The primary contribution of these leaders was the formation of the Great Coalition in 1864. This alliance brought together political rivals to break the deadlock between conservatives and reformers that had paralyzed the government. Key figures from Canada West included:13

• John A. Macdonald: A leader of the Liberal-Conservative Party, Macdonald was a central architect of the union who worked to secure a federal structure that would allow for national expansion and the construction of a transcontinental railway.145
• George Brown: The leader of the Clear Grits reform movement, Brown set aside his long-standing opposition to Macdonald to prioritize the goal of confederation, which he and other reformers viewed as a solution to the region's political and administrative difficulties.145

These leaders collaborated with representatives from Canada East and the Maritime provinces at the Charlottetown Conference, the Quebec Conference, and the London Conference to draft the British North America Act, which officially established the Dominion of Canada in 1867.145