The Joint Review Panel's hearings on the controversial Northern Gateway project enter their Questions phase today in Edmonton.
    After over a year of travelling around B-C and Alberta hearing submissions on the Enbridge project, the federal review panel will begin questioning key parties involved.    
     Both Enbridge and the Alberta government are among those who will present experts to take questions on the economic benefits and environmental risks of the project.
    Enbridge spokesperson Ivan Giesbrecht says the company believes opponents of the project might change their opinions once they know all the facts about the company's plans.
    "We want to engage in dialogue with everybody that has a stake in this," said Giesbrecht, adding Enbridge believes "once people begin to learn the facts about the project, they'll come to support it."
     Alberta Energy Department spokesperson Mike Deising says his province looks forward to having a chance to state its case and respond to questions from the panel that will ultimately recommend whether the six-billion-dollar pipeline to Kitimat should proceed.
     The pipeline has the B-C and Alberta governments at loggerheads.  B-C Premier Christy Clark says this province wants a bigger cut of the profits before it will even consider signing off on the deal, an idea rejected by Alberta's Alison Redford.  Opponents say Northern Gateway should not be allowed to proceed under any conditions.

[The Canadian Press, John Crawford]

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