Layton to Lie in State in Parliament Ahead of Funeral

State funeral in Toronto will be a 'celebration of life' for the NDP leader.

Details of the state funeral for Jack Layton are emerging, with his widow Olivia Chow accepting Prime Minister Stephen Harper's offer for the rare honour and plans in place for his body to lie in state in the foyer of the House of Commons. Layton's body will be on display for the public in Parliament starting Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., while his state funeral will likely be held at 2 p.m. at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. The funeral will be a “celebration of life” for Layton, as per his wishes in his final days. The last time a state funeral was held was for Gov. Gen. Romeo Leblanc after he died in 2009. State funerals are reserved for prime ministers and governors general, although the sitting prime minister can offer them to any citizen he chooses. NDP MPs are also opening their constituency offices to people who wish to sign their condolences to Chow and the Layton family.