Canada has lost a political giant.

Herb Gray — former Liberal MP who served for almost four decades, cabinet minister in 11 posts, and deputy prime minister and Canada's first Jewish cabinet minister — passed away on Monday at the age of 82.

[ Related: Former deputy prime minister Herb Gray dies at 82 ]

When the news began to make headlines on Monday evening, journos and politicos — past and present — took to social and traditional media to praise the man affectionately known as "The Gray Fog."

.@LaureenHarper & I express our condolences to the family of Herb Gray. He was an honourable parliamentarian who served his country well. — Stephen Harper (@pmharper) April 22, 2014

I remember Herb Gray calmly swatting away our questions in QP when we were in opposition. It was a marvel. 1/2 — James Moore (@JamesMoore_org) April 22, 2014

He caught every fastball we threw with his bare hand & smiled - first to our frustration, then to our rhetorical astonishment & respect 2/2 — James Moore (@JamesMoore_org) April 22, 2014

Farewell to the Gray Fog, Herb Gray, who always had a kind word when we met around Ottawa. I'll soon post a favourite old column about him. — Paul Wells (@InklessPW) April 22, 2014

RIP Herb Gray, a truly decent politician, with wit, patience and depth. Condolences to @ipoliYOW and the whole family. #cdnpoli — Susan Delacourt (@SusanDelacourt) April 22, 2014

While Herb Gray quickly became the toast of the country, some were using the same mediums to suggest Gray should be entitled to a state funeral.

According to the Ministry of Canadian Heritage website, the honour of a state funeral is officially limited to a select group of individuals.

"It has been the practice for the Government of Canada to offer a state funeral to present and former governors general, present and former prime ministers and sitting members of the Ministry. In addition, any eminent Canadian may be offered a state funeral at the discretion of the Prime Minister."

But in recent years, the Prime Minister has used his discretion. He granted a state funeral for former NDP leader Jack Layton and former finance minister Jim Flaherty, who resigned from his post a month before his death. Many in the Twitterverse are asking the prime minister to use similar discretion with Gray.

Will there be a State funeral for Herb Gray? 40 year MP, deputy PM, 1st Jewish Cabinet Member. — Stuart Mackinnon (@betterparks) April 22, 2014

Sorrow at passing of #RtHonHerbGrey Trust first Jewish Cdn Minister will have first Jewish Cdn State Funeral @pmharper — Gerald Ohlsen (@geraldohlsen) April 22, 2014

@nspector4 As a former interim opposition leader and Deputy PM, Herb Gray is more entitled to a state funeral than a former Cabinet Minister — William Campbell (@rancheroo2) April 22, 2014

Even former prime minister Paul Martin waded in on the debate.

"Do I think that Herb Gray is entitled to the same kind of funeral that others who received state funerals have? Absolutely. Let there be no doubt about that," Martin told 680News on Tuesday.

We did ask the Prime Minister's office whether or not a state funeral for Gray was under consideration.

Here's their response.

"Mr. Gray was a great Canadian and a tremendous parliamentarian who served with honour and dignity," PMO Director of Communications Jason MacDonald told Yahoo Canada News in an email exchange.

"We are offering to support Mr. Gray's family with the planning and logistics of his funeral."

MacDonald did add, however, that flags on all Government of Canada buildings, in Ottawa, will be flown at half-mast from now until sunset on the day of the Gray's funeral. The flag at the Peace Tower will flown at half-mast on the day of the funeral or memorial service.

[ Related: Plans for Jim Flaherty’s rare state funeral excite mixed reviews ]

The counter point of view to holding a state funeral for Gray is where does it stop? There were, and are, a lot of impressive cabinet ministers in Canadian history and we can't have costly state funerals for all of them, can we?

What do you think? Should the Right Honourable Herb Gray be given a state funeral? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

Are you a politics junkie

Follow @PoliticalPoints on Twitter!