Justin Tang/CP Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer meets volunteers during an event in the Kanata suburb of Ottawa on April 25, 2019.

KANATA, ONT. — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer didn't have much to say Thursday about a private conference he held with oil executives earlier this month to iron out a plan to boot the Liberals from government. "I meet with people all the time. I meet with different representatives of many different types of industries," Scheer told HuffPost Canada after some pre-election door knocking in an Ottawa suburb. According to a Globe and Mail report, Scheer and other top Tories met with oil industry executives at the Azuridge Estate Hotel just outside of Calgary on April 11. They gathered to share ideas about campaign strategies including using independent interest groups to rally the Conservative base.

Justin Tang/CP Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer speaks to supporters before a door knocking event for volunteers in the Kanata suburb of Ottawa on April 25, 2019.

Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould called the campaign-related meeting between Scheer and oil executives "concerning." The day's agenda included a litigation session hosted by Mike Roman, who used to lead the Koch network research unit before finding work in the White House as a Trump administration operative. Scheer did not speak to the details in the Globe story, instead said his party is a champion for the Canadian energy industry and pipelines. The Tory leader joined Kanata—Carleton candidate Justina McCaffrey for some canvassing on a quiet residential street in the neighbourhood of Katimavik-Hazeldean. The area was historically Conservative until Liberals' Karen McCrimmon won the seat in 2015. "This is one of the ridings we're going to get back," Scheer said. With the election six months out, the party said they've already knocked on 500,000 doors across the country since January.

Justin Tang/CP Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer speaks to a resident with Kanata—Carleton candidate Justina McCaffrey, right, during a door knocking event in the Kanata suburb of Ottawa on April 25, 2019.