How did British demand for lumber affect Quebec city’s economy in the 1700s and 1800s?

From the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, the British demand for forest products served as a primary driver for the economy of Quebec city. As the city became the central hub for British imports and exports, as well as a major port of entry for immigrants, the timber trade significantly bolstered its economic status.1

This surge in lumbering activity provided a vital stimulus for the local shipbuilding industry, which thrived on the demand for wooden vessels. During this period, the profits generated from timber exports, alongside wheat trade and luxury imports, allowed merchants to invest in the St. Lawrence river system and establish essential financial institutions.12

However, this favorable economic position eventually declined due to the rise of steam- and steel-based technologies, which rendered wooden ships obsolete, and the development of rail lines that bypassed the city in favor of Montreal.1