Ottawa Construction News staff writer
The 34th annual MSL Show, hosted by Merkley Supply Ltd., brought together key figures from Ottawa’s construction industry on March 27, with an address from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe highlighting the event.
As hundreds of contractors, architects, engineers, and developers gathered at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre for networking, free food and refreshments, and educational seminars and presentations, Robert Merkley, president of Merkley Supply Ltd., welcomed attendees by ringing the Ottawa Brick and Terra Cotta Company fire bell, reflecting on the company’s 125-year history and the show’s origins in the early 1990s.
“It’s hard to believe this is 34 years,” Merkley said, recalling the early days of the show. (It has been an annual event, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption.)
Merkley shared anecdotes of working through the night to prepare badges for the first event, a far cry from the scale of today’s production. Merkley then introduced Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, acknowledging his commitment to the city.
Sutcliffe began by acknowledging Robert Merkley’s significant contributions to Ottawa’s business community. “Robert has been a great leader in our business community for many, many years,” Sutcliffe stated, noting Merkley’s Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ottawa Business Journal and his induction into the Order of Ottawa. The mayor also recognized Merkley’s philanthropic efforts, emphasizing his role as both a business and community leader.
Addressing the attendees, Sutcliffe expressed his gratitude to the construction industry for their essential work in city-building.
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“I want to thank you for what you’re doing to build our city,” he said, acknowledging the
presence of business owners, ministry leaders, engineers, and tradespeople. He highlighted the industry’s role in developing Ottawa’s commercial sector, residential homes, roads, and pathways.
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The mayor also praised Merkley Supply Ltd. as a prime example of a successful family business that has contributed to Ottawa for generations. “Merkley Supply is a great example of a family group business…who has been a part of our city for so many generations,” he noted.
However, Sutcliffe didn’t shy away from addressing the current economic challenges facing Ottawa. “We’re facing a lot of economic uncertainty,” he said, citing the potential impact of federal job cuts, the reduction of federal government buildings in the downtown core, and the implications of a potential trade war with the United States. “None of that is good for our local economy,” he acknowledged.
Despite these challenges, Sutcliffe reassured the audience of the city’s commitment to strengthening and diversifying the local economy. He mentioned collaborations with organizations like the Board of Trade and efforts to promote tourism. The ,ayor also detailed his upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., to advocate against tariffs and promote collaborative trade deals. “We should be negotiating better trade deals, not blocking trades through tariffs,” he asserted, emphasizing the damaging effects of economic uncertainty.
Sutcliffe reiterated the city’s commitment to supporting the construction industry. “We’re going to continue to keep your taxes as low as possible and support the construction industry by making it easier to build homes, making it easier to build commercial buildings in our city,” he said.
In closing, Mayor Sutcliffe thanked the industry for its contributions to Ottawa. “I want to thank you for everything you’re doing…we’re grateful for everything that you do, and I wish you continued success,” he said. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the industry to build a better city and congratulated Robert Merkley once again.
