A poll released last month by CAUT shows continuing dissatisfaction over the federal government's handling of post-secondary education.

While more than 82 per cent of Canadians say investing in post-secondary education should be a high priority of government, only one in five says the federal Liberals are doing a good job in supporting colleges and universities.

"The public continues to be very critical of the government's approach to post-secondary education," noted CAUT president Vic Catano. "And this is despite all the new boutique programs announced in the past few years."

The March poll by Decima Research shows the Liberals continue to dominate the political scene in Canada, enjoying the support of 48 per cent of decided voters. The Progressive Conservatives are a distant second at 15 per cent, while the New Democrats and Canadian Alliance each have the support of about 11 per cent of voters. In Quebec, the Liberals are at 45 per cent while the Bloc Québécois is now trailing 10 points behind at 35 per cent.

According to the survey, Liberal party supporters are more likely to favour increased spending on post-secondary education, with one in five Liberal backers saying their government has done a poor job in supporting universities and colleges. About 57 per cent of Liberal Party supporters say federal funding should be increased.

"I think this shows the Liberals are quite vulnerable on this issue," Catano said. "There's a large constituency within their own ranks unhappy about the government's performance on post-secondary education."

Catano noted that when asked how much trust they have in various occupational groups, Canadians rank university and college professors fourth, behind public school teachers, medical doctors, and nurses.

"We have a great deal of credibility with the public and that should encourage us to speak out more often on issues that concern us," Catano said.

Health care remains the most pressing concern of Canadians, with more than 91 per cent of respondents saying improving medicare should be a high priority for the federal government. Post-secondary education is ranked as the fifth highest priority.

The Decima survey also asked Canadians their views on the deregulation of tuition fees that has been implemented by provincial governments in Ontario and British Columbia. Nationally, nearly three out of four respondents say they are opposed to tuition deregulation. Opposition is strongest in Atlantic Canada and among Liberal and NDP supporters.

The Decima poll results are based on a telephone survey of 2,000 adults across the country and are considered accurate within ± 2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.