The fate of a Canadian man on death row in Montana could become more tenuous as the state gets closer to removing obstacles that prevent it from resuming executions.

Ronald Smith's father still had a bedroom and a vintage car waiting for the day his son might come home to Alberta from the Montana prison where he has been on death row for 35 years.

A Canadian on death row in Montana has been living on borrowed time since admitting he murdered two young men more than three decades ago, but he says he has renewed hope he might be able to return home with the support of Justin Trudeau's government.