Fighting the NDP, fighting other provinces, fighting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberal government.

At last night's United Conservative Party leadership debate in Red Deer, the four candidates were asked about leadership, and what will be needed to ensure the province's voice is heard and respected on the national stage.

"We will need a premier who fights Justin Trudeau in the same way that Peter Lougheed fought his father 35 years ago," said former Progressive Party leader Jason Kenney.

"We need to make it clear. There will be consequences if Alberta continues to be piled on. I would be in the federal court right now with the Attorney General arguing to quash the National Energy Board's illegal mandate creep into the regulation of upstream emissions on Energy East."

In front of 700 party members at the Central Alberta Theatre, Kenney added he would also launch a constitutional challenge against the federal carbon tax and force a referendum on renegotiating equalization, to remove non-renewable resource revenues from the definition of fiscal capacity.

Calgary restructuring lawyer Doug Schweitzer said he would propose kicking British Columbia out of the New West Partnership -- a free trade agreement between the four western provinces -- should the NDP government there continue to oppose pipeline development that would carry Alberta resources to market.

"If they start a trade war, we'll end it," Schweitzer said.

On agriculture, the four candidates agreed on repealing Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act.

Former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean said after the debate that private insurers would give farmers and ranchers better coverage at lower cost than the Workers Compensation Board.

"I agree that farm workers need to be covered," Jean said. "They need the best coverage possible and that's not seen through WCB."

Jeff Callaway, the former Wildrose Party president and founder, grew up on a dairy farm and said, "frankly, I think we had a good system before."

Candidates emphasized economic growth and balancing the budget when asked how they would balance fiscal sustainability with ensuring social services are provided to those that need them.

"We want to be a generous, compassionate society but first we must be a prosperous one. The best social program is a good job," Kenney said.

Scrapping the carbon tax, cutting tax rates and regulations, stopping power prices and increases to the minimum wage will be priorities to that end, he continued.

Jean said he would balance the province's $10-billion deficit within three years by freezing hiring in the public sector for non-front line workers, as well as cutting positions through attrition.

The UCP leader will be chosen on Oct. 28 through a preferential ballot. Voting takes place electronically.