Northern Gateway hearings resuming in Prince Rupert this week

Protesters gather to demonstrate against the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Federal review hearings into the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline are set to resume this week in Prince Rupert, to hear more on the company's efforts to engage aboriginals and consult the public.

Aboriginal engagement has been one of the greatest hurdles for the six (b) billion dollar project.

Northern Gateway project leader Janet Holder testified last week that it's been a challenge to incorporate the many interests at stake -- and it may be impossible to address them all.

That challenge may be all the more difficult because of Ottawa's decision to designate the panel review as the primary means of Crown consultation on the project.

Several First Nations say the review is not proper consultation in their view, and at least one band has already filed notice to the panel of a constitutional challenge on whether they can render a decision that affects aboriginal rights.

The pipeline would deliver oil products from Alberta to a tanker port in Kitimat.