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Ronald Smith
Canadian On Death Row in Montana
EXECUTION DATE JANUARY 31st 2012
His execution date was set for January 31.
Two days before the date was set, a civil court judge had issued a stay in the case
because a civil suit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The ACLU argues that Montana's use of lethal injection is unconstitutionally cruel.
The civil judge ruled no execution could go ahead until that case was resolved,
but the sentencing judge ignored the ruling and went ahead and set a date anyway.
The Montana Supreme Court had to intervene in the jurisdictional dispute to uphold the stay.
Recent News Updates...
Family of Calgary man on U.S. death row pleads for his life - CTV News
Ronald Smith's family say death-row inmate is a changed man - Vancouver Sun
Canadian family of Montana death row inmate pleads for his life - The Missoulian
An application for clemency has been filed with Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer
who holds the responsibility for making the final decision on commuting his sentence.
Contact The Governor:
Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT
59620-0801
Phone: (406) 444-3111
Fax: (406) 444-5529
November 1, 2007: Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced the reversal of
Canada's long standing policy by the Conservative Government of Stephen Harper
to no longer advocate for clemency on behalf of Canadian's sentenced to death.
April 8, 2009: Justice Robert Barnes of the Federal Court of Canada condemned Prime Minister
Stephen Harper and other senior officials for arbitrarily stitching together a revamped stand on
clemency that reversed long-standing policy, effectively abandoning Mr. Smith to be executed.
Judge Barnes said in his ruling that fundamental fairness dictates that Canada move quickly
to exert its diplomatic influence to stave off Mr. Smith's impending execution and pave the
way for his possible transfer to a prison in Canada (as we did before the Conservatives).
Ronald Smith's response to the CCADP's concerns November 13, 2007
Dear Mr. Parkinson and Ms. Lamourie,
Greg Jackson forwarded your letter on to me and it seemed most necessary that I respond quickly.
I have to admit that your letter caught me with almost as much surprise as the Canadian governments actions did.
I had heard that their reversal of policy had sparked a fierce debate over the death penalty
but this is considerably more than what I had been told.
While I recognize that this isn't a personal endorsement of me, it is nice, as the only Canadian in the world with a death sentence, to see the outpouring of support.
With regard to the most recent events, to say I was extremely disappointed would be an understatement.
The original idea of clemency was brought to my attention by consular officials over 2 years ago.
I was told that the Governor himself had brought up my name and circumstances and that Canadian officials viewed it as an opportunity
to approach him with the clemency question. They came to me to ask my permission to do so, which I of course agreed to.
Then, three weeks ago, the Governor was on the news talking about how he had been approached about
clemency and a transfer home, and that he would be discussing it with officials during a trip to Edmonton.
A week later Stockwell Day made the announcment that the Canadian government had reversed its
stance regarding death sentenced Canadians.
To dislike or even loathe me is one thing, but to do a 180 on long standing policy is something else.
Since I am the only Canadian in the world with a death sentence, its very difficult not to construe this as a personal attack.
An honest evaluation leaves no doubt that it's purely personal agenda on behalf of Day and Harper,
I just happen to be a convenient piece of meat to throw to the dogs and spark the debate back home.
They keep an eye on the news and polls and which ever way public opinion goes, that's they way they go.
Hopefully the events taking place will be the start needed to bring Canada back to the 21st century
and not straggling along behind the US in the 19th.
I wish you all the very best and an ap pro po slogan directly out of my time, Power To The People !
Sincerely, Ron Smith
The CCADP is encouraging
Canadians
to send Ron your letters of support:
Ronald
Smith
#20055
Montana State Prison
700
Conley
Lake
Road
Deer
Lodge,
Montana
59722-9707
USA
"I want to let people know that the man I know is
not the man that everybody thinks he is.
I would like him to
look at my Dad and see how much he's changed and how
remorseful.
I go to him for
everything - good and bad. He's the one I go to for
advice."
- (Ronald's daughter)
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Last updated Febuary 6, 2012 Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty
This page is maintained and updated by Dave Parkinson and Tracy Lamourie