CALGARY — Duct tape works.

That's Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's view on the rising fortunes of the federal Conservatives heading into the final two weeks before the Jan. 23 election.

Klein had predicted on at least two occasions early in the campaign that the vote would result in another Liberal minority. Some Tories, apparently fearing the Alberta premier's comments could influence the outcome of the race, were angry at his outspokenness. Deputy Tory leader Peter MacKay went so far as to bluntly suggest that duct tape might be the only way to get Klein to keep his opinions to himself.

"Duct tape works from time to time,'' Klein told reporters Monday as the latest poll indicated the federal Tories were nine points ahead of the Liberals.

"If they don't think they need me, fine.''

Klein's public musings during the 2004 election about Alberta's plans to reconfigure health care were pounced upon by Paul Martin, who used them to suggest Klein and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper would work together to dismantle medicare if the federal Tories came to power.

Liberal fortunes appeared to rise after that and some observers suggested Klein may have cost Harper a win.

Klein's offers to campaign on behalf of Harper this time around were politely rejected early -- even before the premier said he doubted his federal counterparts could make enough inroads in vote-rich Ontario to defeat the Liberals.

"I'm very pleased to see that my prediction is not coming true,'' Klein said. "I'd be very, very pleased to lose this bet.''

Klein also said he'd be thrilled with a Conservative government, which would be able to revisit such issues as legalization of same-sex marriage.

"Nothing is carved in stone,'' Klein said. "All it takes is a legislative session.''

Klein's latest comments may cause Tory strategists to pull out their hair, said political analyst David Taras.

"He should have kept the duct tape on a little longer,'' said Taras, who teaches at the University of Calgary.

"It raises all of the old issues of whether or not there is another agenda going on,'' said Taras. "All of the things Harper is trying to put on the back burner of the campaign, in Ralph Klein's mind they're on the front burner. That's not good news in terms of Tory strategy.''

Harper is the only federal political leader calling for a free vote on the issue. The Liberals were reviving the same-sex issue Monday by claiming a Conservative government could try to pack the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn the right of gays and lesbians to wed.

Same-sex marriage was a hot-button issue in Alberta as the law made its way through Parliament. At one point Klein suggested a legal challenge, but eventually he admitted that would go nowhere.

The province, the country's energy powerhouse, also refused to step in line on Canada's commitment to the Kyoto climate accord, coming up with its own formula instead to limit greenhouse gases.

On Monday, Klein said the only thing the province wants from a new federal government is to be left alone.

"My conversation with Stephen was ... `Leave us to our own devices.'''

Klein suggested, however, that it would be nice if Ottawa would deal with "irksome'' issues such as Kyoto.

"That's not to say we abandon our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we do it in a more responsible fashion.''

The premier said Alberta wants to "figure things out'' on its own -- and that also applies to health care.

"We will do what we have to do relative to health-care reform within the spirit of the Canada Health Act, but if we have to go outside (the act) that's something that will be considered if and when that happens,'' he said.

Klein said he has been impressed by the Conservative campaign and the party's recent television ads.

"They are constantly reminding the Canadian public that the Liberals are corrupt,'' he said. "I'm happy that the Conservatives have taken that tack. I'm also happy that they've come forward with a solid platform -- a solid social platform and a solid fiscal platform.''