VIDEO: CBC Edmonton Tory leadership debate

The six candidates for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta took part in a forum at CBC Edmonton's Centre Stage Friday.

Questions from CBC listeners and viewers provoked a lively and at times, feisty debate among the candidates, especially on issues like the role of private health care in the public system.

A secondary email used by leadership candidate Ted Morton while he was a cabinet minister and the shredding of documents after he left office, which were revealed this week by a CBC News investigation, also led tosome spirited exchanges.

The revelations in the story prompted Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Frank Work to launch an investigation. Morton denies doinganything wrong.

"I look forward to working with the privacy commissioner on his investigation," Mortontold the forum.

"But it's not an investigation into Ted Morton. It's an investigation into how all ministers handle the difference between internal communications with staff and department and other ministers, and your public interface."

Morton, Doug Griffiths, Rick Orman, Gary Mar, Alison Redford and Doug Horner are running to replace Ed Stelmach after he steps down as premier and party leader on Oct. 1.

The first ballot will be held on Sept. 17th. If no candidate is able to winmore than 50 per cent of the vote, a second ballot with the top three candidates will be held on Oct. 1.