The issue of reforming Alberta's health-care system drew the most fire at a televised Tory leadership debate in Calgary Wednesday night.

The forum was one of eight across the province organized by Alberta's Conservative party as members prepare to vote for a leader to replace Ralph Klein on Nov. 25

For much of the 90-minute event, the rowdy crowd was livelier than the debate itself.

'I'm a fiscal Conservative. I am not going to buy people with their money.' - Jim Dinning

However, a question about fixing health care provoked some debate, with two candidates taking shots at each other.

Former MLA and businessman Jim Dinning stressed the need for an entirely publicly funded system with reduced waiting lists.

When it came time for a rebuttal, rookie MLA Ted Morton referred to recent comments Klein made about his failure to deliver meaningful health-care reforms, a job Klein said will fall to the next premier.

"Well, I guess he doesn't think Jim Dinning's going be the next premier 'cause Jim says he won't lead meaningful reform," Morton quipped. 

Debate on health-care premiums

Morton said he would eliminate health-care premiums as soon as Albertans are allowed to buy private insurance for non-emergency services.

Dinning responded that he wouldn't promise to cut health-care premiums to buy votes.

"I'm a fiscal Conservative. I am not going to buy people with their money," he said.

Strathmore-Brooks MLA Lyle Oberg spoke Wednesday night about allowing private health-care options and promised to do away with Alberta's health-care premiums.

Oberg, a medical doctor, supports giving Albertans the option of paying for medical procedures and allowing doctors to spend 25 per cent of their time working outside the public system.