State funeral Saturday for NDP Leader Jack Layton

NDP Leader Jack Layton will be honoured with a state funeral on Saturday, expected to be held at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

A state funeral is traditionally offered only to current and former governors general, current and former prime ministers and current members of cabinet; however, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the PM offered Layton’s wife MP Olivia Chow the option of the state funeral and she accepted.

On Monday evening, Harper confirmed the state funeral through Twitter and added, “Canadians will have an opportunity to salute Jack Layton’s contribution to public life.”

The Layton family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the recently announced Broadbent Institute, a left-leaning think-tank.

Layton died Monday morning at the age of 61, following the charismatic politician’s second bout with cancer.

A statement from Layton’s family indicated the well-liked political leader passed away peacefully at his home.

“We deeply regret to inform you that The Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 a.m. today, Monday August 22. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. Details of Mr. Layton’s funeral arrangements will be forthcoming,” it said.

Layton’s death comes just shy of a month after he made a public appearance to announce he was once again battling cancer.  During the Toronto press conference, the usually energetic leader looked gaunt and sick.

Speaking to the crowd Layton said although he had beaten his prostate cancer, he had been diagnosed with a second type of cancer and on the advice of his doctors, he was going to focus on treatment and recovery.

“I’m going to fight this cancer now, so that I can be back to fight for families when parliament resumes,” Layton said.

The second bout with cancer came only shortly after Layton managed to win the position of leader of the Official Opposition in the latest election.

Born in Montreal, Que., in the summer of 1950, Layton was a charismatic leader who was well liked across the country. His father was a politician by trade, serving as a Conservative cabinet minister in the Brian Mulroney government.

Layton was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1981, where he spent 20 years as  a thorn in the left side of Conservative mayors. He ran for mayor of Toronto twice, and although he lost both times, he managed to become the leader of the NDP in 2003.

In the years that followed Layton would bring the NDP from something of a third party to mainstream success.

During his storied career Layton also taught at Ryerson University and served as chair of several committees in Toronto.

Layton’s first marriage to high-school sweetheart Sally Halford produced two children but ended in 1981.  Layton would eventually marry Olivia Chow, another active politician in Toronto.

The two become known as a power couple in Toronto, fighting for social action and the rights of all Canadians.  It was his brash personality and unwillingness to back down that earned Layton the reputation as a passionate and tough politician.

That reputation as a fighter would stay with Layton until, and even after, his death.