MONTREAL — Protests continued to dog Premier Jean Charest's Liberals on Saturday as about 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside a party policy convention and blasted his government for everything from education cuts to tinkering with social programs.

"Where have our priorities gone?," wondered Louise Jette, a regional president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions. "That's the problem."

In contrast to a protest Friday where anti-capitalist demonstrators clashed with police, Saturday's affair drew a disciplined crowd made up of labour and community groups from across the province.

Demonstrators scoffed at Charest's opening speech to the convention during which he touted his government's successes in health care and job creation.

"He hasn't given anything to Quebec," said protester Stephane Nadeau. "He's taken things away."

Pierre-Andre Bouchard, 25, president of a student group protesting the government's decision to cut $100 million in bursaries and turning them into repayable loans, agreed.

"It hurts students," Bouchard said. "We have to invest in education and that will guarantee the future of our children."

Charest rode to power promising to cut taxes, reduce government bureaucracy and to put more control of the economy into the hands of private enterprise.

However, his party's popularity in opinion polls has plunged since Charest took office in April 2003.

Danielle Paulin, 53, said the demonstrations would pay off.

"The Liberals are not listening now but they know they're on their way out," she said. "Next election, they're going to get the boot."

The party meeting ends Sunday.