Thirty-three days, 9 provinces, 71 communities, over 10,000 kilometres and $3,661,643,836 further in debt.

Debt clock still spinning at $1,284 per second as candidates hit the hustings.

LUNENBURG, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) wrapped up its Winter 2011 National Debt Clock Tour this afternoon in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia after travelling over 10,000 kilometres from the coast of the Pacific Ocean to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

“While the tour schedule was planned months ago, it turned out to be perfect timing,” said CTF National Communications Manager Scott Hennig. “As candidates are hitting the doorsteps, we hope the Debt Clock put the issue of our debt and deficit in the minds of Canadians who will be grilling want-to-be MPs.”

Over the 33 day tour, the federal debt climbed $3,661,643,836 – at a pace of $1,284 per second.

“The reaction from Canadians who saw the clock was exactly as we’d hoped,” continued Hennig. “Most people were stunned by just how high and how fast the debt was growing.”

The tour stopped in 71 communities along the route, starting at Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada Highway in Victoria, B.C. on February 22nd.

“While we regret we were not able to stop in every community along the route and in fact had to turn down multiple requests from concerned Canadians to come to their community, the debt clock will not be going into retirement until budgets are balanced,” said Hennig.

Those who were not able to catch the clock on the tour can check out photos and videos from the tour, as well as an inter-active map with stories from the road at www.debtclocktour.ca. Canadians can also watch the rapidly growing debt on the on-line version of the debt clock anytime at www.debtclock.ca.

“We’d like to especially thank those who donated to our debt clock campaign. Without them the clock refurbishment and the tour would not have been possible,” concluded Hennig.

The large aluminum clock which measures 6 feet high and 12 feet long, displayed federal debt growing in real-time as well as the per person calculation. A customized trailer was built for the tour which allowed for a rolling display of the clock.