The Montana Parole Board recommended Monday that a Canadian man on death row be denied clemency.

A clemency hearing has been set for two days in early May for the only Canadian on death row in the United States: Ronald Smith, originally from Red Deer, Alta.

The only Canadian on death row in the United States has a clemency hearing in less than a month, but a leaked document obtained by The Canadian Press suggests he may have already lost his bid before the arguments begin.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is appealing to the Iranian government to grant clemency to Hamid Ghassemi-Shall, a Canadian who faces the death penalty in Tehran.

The only Canadian on death row in the United States is expected to make a plea for his life at his clemency hearing in Montana this week.