Alberta's prospering economy took centre stage as 500 Conservative party members crowded into a St. Albert theatre to hear from nine candidates vying to replace Premier Ralph Klein.

Most of the candidates at Tuesday night's forum near Edmonton stressed the need for a plan to deal with the ballooning oil and gas industry and the population explosion that has come with it.

The rapid growth has created labour and housing shortages in the province. Premier Ralph Klein recently admitted his government had no plan to deal with the economic boom.

"It has got to be Alberta on purpose, not by drift or by accident … not to slow it down, but to anticipate and manage," said Jim Dinning, a former provincial treasurer thought by many to be a frontrunner in the race.

Alberta is already wooing thousands of workers from other provinces and countries.

Contender Ted Morton said having greater control over immigration is the key.

"Immigration is the shared jurisdiction between each province and the federal government. We can take control over immigration — Quebec does that. And if we do that we can prioritize skilled workers instead of the priorities that the federal government does."

Increase education spaces: Norris

In order to produce more skilled workers, the province needs to increase the number of spaces at post-secondary institutions, said candidate Mark Norris.

"We are turning away Alberta kids by the thousands," he said. 

"We need those kids to have the same opportunity that I had, and Dave [Hancock] had and others, growing up in Alberta. That affordable, good post-secondary education was available to them if they chose, or a technical college."

Those seeking the top job include former cabinet ministers Lyle Oberg, Norris, Dinning, Victor Doerksen, Hancock and Ed Stelmach.

Two backbenchers, Morton and Alana DeLong, are also in the race, along with disabled rights advocate Gary McPherson.

More forums before vote

The forum, the first with all nine candidates, unofficially launched the race to replace Klein, who hasn't yet turned in his resignation letter, though he has announced that he will retire when a new leader is chosen. The letter is expected later this month, at which point the race will kick into high gear with a first ballot likely to be held at the end of November.

Some party members said there was no clear winner Tuesday night.

Those who haven't made up their minds will have a chance to hear more in the coming weeks.

The party plans to host eight forums over the next two months before the first ballot. The next forum is Friday night in Calgary.