More than 60 university professors and academic staff from across Canada called on Ottawa to increase funding for post-secondary education as part of a one-day national lobby organized by CAUT and the Fédération québécoise des professeures et professeurs d'université last month.

"We're here today to tell federal politicians that our universities and colleges are facing enormous challenges," CAUT president Victor Catano said during a news conference on Parliament Hill Nov. 21. "If this government really believes that access to a high quality post-secondary education system is critical to our social and economic future, then it's time it backs that up with proper funding."

He noted that since 1992 real per capita spending on post-secondary education has declined by more than 14 per cent and that operating grants to universities are down by more than 25 per cent.

"The most positive action the federal government could take is to ensure on a regular and equitable basis the transfer of the necessary funds to the provinces to pay for post-secondary education," said FQPPU president Arpi Hamalian. "Only this will enable the provinces to meet their own responsibilities towards university teaching and research."

Catano and Hamalian began their day-long lobbying blitz with Peter Adams, chair of the Liberal government's post-secondary education caucus and Alexa McDonough, leader of the New Democratic Party. This was followed by meetings with Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion and Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe.

Catano said he pressed CAUT's proposed post-secondary education act with Dion, who admitted that the current way Ottawa helps fund post-secondary education is flawed. The act would reform the way Ottawa transfers money to the provinces to pay for higher education at the same time as requiring that the provinces meet certain national standards, such as accessibility and not-for-profit provisions.

CAUT and FQPPU are scheduled to meet over the next few weeks with Finance Minister John Manley, Industry Minister Allan Rock and Conservative leader Joe Clark, all of whom were unavailable during lobby day.