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OTTAWA—Bells will toll and the flag-draped closed casket carrying former Opposition leader Jack Layton to Parliament Hill will be met by military, RCMP and parliamentary security escorts.

But it may well be the line of dozens of New Democrat MPs — rookies and old hands alike whom Layton led to a historic showing in the last election — that marks the drama of his departure from Canada’s public life.

Layton leaves a caucus in mourning. His interim replacement, Nycole Turmel, acknowledged Tuesday he “cannot be replaced”

So far, 54 of the 102 NDP MPs are expected. Kathleen Monk, the party’s director of strategic communications, said, “It means a lot to the NDP family to be here.”

Caucus whip Chris Charlton is coming from meetings in Germany, and MP Niki Ashton has cut short her honeymoon in Greece.

All want to be there as Layton’s remains arrive back in the capital and are brought to the foyer of the House of Commons, where Layton appeared daily before the microphones and cameras to explain his party’s positions.

Indeed, Layton will lie in state this week in two places dear to his political heart: Toronto City Hall and Parliament.

His state funeral, for invited dignitaries and ordinary Canadians, to be led by Rev. Brent Hawkes, of the Metropolitan Community Church, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the 2,800-seat Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.

Despite the trappings of officialdom, the funeral is being described as “A Celebration of Jack Layton’s Life.” Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, Layton’s friend and mentor, will be one of the pallbearers.

A funeral cortege with Layton’s casket will depart from Toronto at 4 a.m. Wednesday and travel with a police escort along Hwy 401, and Hwy 416 to Ottawa.

The hearse will be joined by Layton’s family for a formal funeral procession in Ottawa to Parliament Hill. In the procession will be his wife, MP Olivia Chow, his daughter Sarah and husband Hugh Campbell, with Layton’s 2-year-old granddaughter Beatrice. As well, Layton’s son, councillor Mike Layton, and his fiancé Brett Tryon, and Layton’s first wife, Sarah Roy, who is Sarah and Michael’s mother, will attend, along with Bob Gallagher, his former chief of staff and long-time family friend.

As Layton’s casket arrives on Parliament Hill, the carillon bells will toll 15 times and when it departs on Thursday, it will be hailed by a 15-gun salute — an honor extended as part of the rare state funeral for the man who wasn’t prime minister but always believed he could be.

For family, dignitaries and MPs, the viewing will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who offered the state funeral to the Layton family, is expected to attend but his itinerary has not been released.

Members of the public can pay tribute to Layton in the Commons foyer on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A book of condolences will be open for the public at the same time.

The formal funeral procession will leave finally Ottawa for Toronto at 2 p.m. Thursday, and take the same route back under police escort.

Layton’s body will lie in state at City Hall on Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The state funeral begins at 2 p.m. at Roy Thomson Hall, with overflow room for the public at the nearby David Pecaut Park.

Afterwards, a reception will be held at Roy Thomson Hall for participants at the service, and will be briefly attended by the family for about an hour.

Following the service, Layton’s casket will be accompanied by his family to a private interment service.

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Layton requested that he be cremated. So his ashes will be buried at a later time, said Monk. Details about the location of his final resting place are not yet available.

The veteran politician’s father, Robert, is buried in Hudson, Que., where Jack Layton grew up and wrote in his high school yearbook: “I leave to become prime minister.”

With files from Lesley Ciarula Taylor

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