Alberta Premier Ralph Klein says he would have quit politics by now if not for his wife, Colleen.

"She plays a tremendous role," Klein told The Canadian Press in a year-end interview. "As a matter of fact, I would say that she was the main force behind me running again in the last election. "She said that 'You should serve one more term, there's a lot to be done.' Otherwise, I wouldn't have run."

Klein, who has been premier since 1992, is the most senior provincial leader in Canada.

He readily admits that he has used the job to further some of his wife's favourite causes, including the Kids Kottage temporary shelter program for abused children, the provincial Great Kids awards and the fight against crystal meth addiction.

"No doubt about it, what she's involved in interests me a lot," the premier said with a chuckle.

"They are, to some degree, command performances."

Colleen Klein is generally media shy and declined an interview request. But she spoke passionately to reporters recently about her commitment to the crusade against crystal meth.

"It's killing our youth. It is absolutely deadly," she said. "With other drugs the brain loses a lot of cells, but this one here leaves an actual hole in the brain."

The same day Klein made those comments, her husband announced that Alberta would become the first province to seize the children of drug addicts or dealers who put them at risk.

Klein's admission that these "command performances" for his wife have kept him in the premier's office comes at a time when some Conservatives are muttering about his prolonged tenure. A handful of current and former cabinet ministers have been conducting unofficial leadership campaigns all year.

Art Smith, a respected Conservative party veteran in Calgary, made headlines recently with his suggestion that Klein had overstayed his welcome by saying he planned to remain as premier until early 2008.

Smith later wrote a letter to the editor that praised Klein, saying his respect for the premier has not wavered in 20 years.

"I hope some people will remember the good that the premier has accomplished in Alberta," Smith wrote. "And that when he leaves, a proper salutation will be made for his many years of service."

Klein maintains he has strong support within his caucus.

"There is a core, a very strong core of MLAs, who are solidly supporting me," he said. "Even some of the cabinet leadership contenders and those out of cabinet have indicated their support for me.

"I'm not too worried."