OTTAWA--Nearly half of Canadians say it is important that the political party they support makes post-secondary education a priority, according to a new poll conducted by Harris/Decima for the Canadian Federation of Students and Canadian Association of University Teachers.

"Rapidly rising tuition fees and record-high levels of student debt are alarming to most Canadians," said David Molenhuis, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "Political parties that address these issues stand to benefit on election day."

Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said post-secondary education was a priority for them personally, with nearly a third (31%) indicating it was a very high priority. Just eight percent said universities and colleges were not an important issue in the election.

"A number of Canadians will be looking closely at the party platforms this weekend to see who has the best plan for colleges and universities," added Penni Stewart, president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers.

The random national telephone survey, commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Students and Canadian Association of University Teachers and conducted by Harris/Decima, included interviews with 2,019 adult Canadians from April 14-27, 2011. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.2%, 19 times of out 20.

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more than one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927.