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State funerals a mix of formal government protocol and public grief

By Allison Jones, The Canadian Press | The Canadian Press – 1 hour 44 minutes ago

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TORONTO - Jack Layton, whose death has inspired outpourings of national grief, will be remembered today with a state funeral, a ceremony that combines formal honours with public involvement.

Such ceremonies are a somewhat rare occurrence in Canada, with just 34 other state funerals put on by the federal government since 1868.

Distinct elements of state funerals can vary, as the deceased person's family makes those decisions in consultation with the government. But they are by definition public funerals organized and administered by the government in co-ordination with the family.

State funerals generally include a lying-in-state, a procession and some military honours.

Normally they are accorded only to current and former prime ministers, current cabinet ministers and governors general, but Stephen Harper used his discretion to offer one to Layton's family out of respect for his stature.

The former NDP leader died Monday at the age of 61 after revealing weeks earlier that he had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer. He had also battled prostate cancer and underwent hip surgery before the May federal election.

Layton will be only the second person who was not a prime minister, cabinet minister or governor general to receive a federal state funeral. In fact, the only other person to fit that bill was an MP, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, who was given the first Canadian state funeral in 1868 after he was assassinated.

Provinces can also hold state funerals, and have honoured former premiers that way. In 2000 the Quebec government held a state funeral for hockey legend Maurice Richard.

Layton's funeral is expected to be attended by 1,700 invited guests. According to state funeral protocol, invitations are drawn from the Table of Precedence, which begins with the governor general, followed by the prime minister then the chief justice of Canada.

The Table of Precedence lists 28 positions, including ambassadors, ministers, premiers and other provincial officials, judges and senators, right down to the chairperson of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians at No. 28. There will be 600 spots reserved at Layton's funeral for members of the public.

The last Canadian state funeral was held for former Gov.-Gen. Romeo LeBlanc in 2009.

After a final two hours of public visitation at Toronto City Hall, horse-mounted police will lead a procession, followed by pipe and drum bands and an honour guard from city hall to nearby Roy Thomson Hall, where the funeral will take place.

Layton's popularity has prompted government organizers to set up four large video screens in a square outside the hall to accommodate an expected overflow crowd.