OTTAWA - Jack Layton's body will lie in state in the foyer outside the House of Commons where the NDP leader used to joust daily with reporters.

The lying-in-state will be open to the public Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A state funeral is to be held Saturday afternoon at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall.

State funerals are normally accorded only to current and former prime ministers and governors general, and current cabinet ministers.

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper exercised his discretion to offer the honour for Layton.

Layton's wife, MP Olivia Chow, accepted the offer.

Tributes across Toronto

Tributes have been popping up across Toronto for the late politician.

One of the largest is at Nathan Phillips Square, where people are using brightly-coloured chalk to scrawl messages on the concrete plaza and walls.

People are invited to sign condolence books that have been opened by the city at Toronto's city hall and East York Civic Centre. The books will be available until the state funeral is held.

The federal NDP has books of condolence set up at local constituency offices across Canada, while Ontario's NDP has a book available to the public at Queen's Park.

Books were also made available outside Layton's Toronto home and his constituency office on Broadview Avenue, just south of Dundas Street East, on Monday. People have created memorials, mostly comprised of bouquets of flowers, at both sites.

On the Internet, a small movement of people has taken to Facebook to push for the CN Tower to be lit up in orange Saturday night to honour Layton.

Layton, 61, died at his home Monday morning. He was surrounded by family and loved ones, according to a family statement.

Within moments of the statement, Canadians began leaving flowers and notes outside Layton's home and his constituency office. Cans of orange soda and beer were also left outside the constituency office and the House of Commons.

Flags have been lowered on Parliament Hill, at Toronto's city hall and at other buildings across the country.

Layton's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the recently announced Broadbent Institute, a left-leaning think-tank.

With files from CP24