Final answer:
Central Canada wanted to connect with the Maritimes primarily for economic benefits, to foster trade, and improve the standard of living by integrating them into established trade networks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Central Canada sought to connect with the Maritimes for economic benefits. During the eighteenth century, following mercantilist policies, British North American colonies were integrated into a trade network that fostered economic growth and improved the colonists' standard of living by exchanging local raw materials for manufactured goods from the mother country.
This economic aspiration further encouraged the extension of political control over the colonies. The need for economic stability and growth remained a driving force through various periods and developments, including the debate around Quebec's secession and its concerns over economic competitiveness.