Funeral arrangements have been released for the late Rt. Hon. Herb Gray.
A service will be held at the Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa on Friday at 11 a.m. His burial will follow at the Machzikei Hadas section of the Jewish Memorial Gardens.
Shiva – a week-long mourning period – will take place at the Gray family home at 1534 Featherstone Drive in Ottawa, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., starting Sunday and ending Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, Carleton University or Torah Academy of Ottawa.
At the same time, the death of Gray has some asking whether the former Liberal deputy prime minister deserves a state funeral.
The Prime Minister's Office has said a state funeral will not happen, but has offered support to Gray's family in making plans for their last opportunity to say goodbye.
Gray, one of Canada's longest-serving parliamentarians, died Monday at the age of 82.
Former prime minister Paul Martin says Gray's contributions to the country were enormous, and that he deserves the best possible sendoff -- but that it's up to the government to decide whether a state funeral is appropriate.
Essex MP Jeff Watson says there’s no conspiracy or controversy surrounding the decision to not hold a state funeral. He says any claim suggesting that the PMO is playing favourites towards conservative politicians is “bogus”.
One government official says state funerals are typically only offered to the families of sitting and former prime ministers and governor generals, as well as sitting cabinet ministers.
Exceptions, such as that for Flaherty and former NDP leader Jack Layton in 2011, are at the discretion of the prime minister -- and rare.
A Windsor service has not yet been announced.
With files from The Canadian Press
