The B.C. government should spend much more money to make the province's post-secondary education system the best in Canada, says a new report.

The report, prepared for the government by former attorney general Geoff Plant, makes 51 recommendations to improve the system, including better access.

Plant said B.C. should aim to have the highest level of participation in post-secondary education, it must grant more degrees and it must have the highest student achievement.

The former minister, who did not run for re-election in 2005, said the government has to back up that commitment with a substantial amount of money.

"And it will certainly be in the millions or tens of millions of dollars a year. But gosh, I sure think it's a fight worth having at the cabinet table, because this is the investment you have to make to build the strong economy and the strong society we want for ourselves in British Columbia over the next generation."

His report also calls on the government to clarify the role and mandate of its institutions. 

It recommends a network of regional universities such as Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. The larger provincial universities would be the only ones granting doctoral degrees.

Universities would also be able to set their own tuition with a higher-education price index.

Many of Plant's recommendations deal with the need for better co-ordination. He calls for the creation of a Higher Education Presidents Council to oversee the strategy to improve access and results.

Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell welcomed the report, but didn't say if the government will adopt the recommendations.

"My general read of it is that the system is in good shape, but there are areas that can benefit from increased co-ordination, increased emphasis on students. I think in that respect it's a very good report."