Canadian agency deciding Shell’s offshore drilling includes ex-Shell official

News of Tory-appointed official follows on Environment Minister granting Shell up to 21 days to stop underwater oil spills

The agency tasked with giving approval for Shell's deep-water drilling off Canada's east coast includes a Tory-appointed official who worked for Shell for decades, it has emerged.

Shell's billion-dollar plans for exploratory drilling 200 km from Nova Scotia's southern shore have been green-lighted by Canada's Environment Minister, but they await a final review this fall by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.