OTTAWA—The federal New Democrats are set to name the Ottawa building housing party headquarters after the late Jack Layton.

A confidential email obtained and verified by the Star reveals members of the NDP federal council are voting on a motion to rename party headquarters at 279 Laurier Ave. W. the “Jack Layton Building” in honour of the leader who died last summer.

The new name was to be unveiled as a surprise for Layton’s widow and fellow NDP MP Olivia Chow (Trinity–Spadina) and his family during a tribute to the former leader at the leadership convention in Toronto on Friday evening.

“This effort is confidential and, if adopted, is intended to be a surprise for Olivia Chow and the Layton family,” said the email that NDP national director Chantal Vallerand sent to the federal council on Monday.

Party president Rebecca Blaikie would not comment Tuesday.

“It’s confidential,” she said from Winnipeg. “I don’t have any comment at this time, because I can’t comment on anything before the council makes a decision. But I’m hoping that they’ll make a decision soon and we’ll have something to announce on Friday.”

Sally Housser, the interim deputy national director of the NDP, also had no comment on Tuesday, explaining that the party did not want to prejudice any motion currently before the federal council.

The email says the federal council originally adopted a motion in January 2010 to name the building after founding NDP leader Tommy Douglas as a way to celebrate the party’s half-century of existence.

“However, due to the federal election and the tragic death of our leader Jack Layton, events and initiatives were placed on hold, and no action was taken on that motion,” Vallerand wrote in the email. “In light of events over the past nine months and in recognition of Jack Layton’s key role in acquiring the building, Federal Council is now being asked to consider a motion to name the building after Jack Layton.”

The 10,000 square-foot NDP headquarters — topped with an eco-friendly roof — is housed on the third floor of a building the party bought for about $4 million in 2003.

Owning the building and renting out the first two floors cuts down costs while bringing the NDP additional income, part of the modernization of party finances that Layton spearheaded during his leadership.

Members of the federal council have until Wednesday at 6 p.m. to vote on the motion and anyone who does not reply will be deemed to have voted in its favour.

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