More than 100,000 postcards urging the federal government to increase its core funding of Canada's universities and colleges are being distributed on campuses across the country this fall. The eye-catching postcard is the latest weapon in CAUT's ongoing campaign to raise awareness about the problems plaguing post-secondary education as a result of government cutbacks.

"With a federal budget a few months away and an election on the horizon, we need to send a message loud and clear that our politicians must deal with the crisis in post-secondary education funding," said CAUT president Tom Booth. "Now that the government has turned the corner on the deficit, it's time to rebuild our universities and colleges before it's too late."

Postcards, posters and drop boxes have been sent to more than 30 local and provincial associations participating in the campaign that calls on the Liberal government to make a significant reinvestment in post-secondary education in its next budget. Signed postcards will be collected by CAUT and delivered to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien following a news conference in Ottawa in late October.

"We need to get the message out that previous budgets have simply tinkered around the edges of the problem," Booth said. "Whether it's the Millennium Scholarships or the Canada Research Chairs or any of the other boutique programs, these initiatives simply ignore the real need – the need for renewed core funding."