The Van Horne Institute for International Transportation and Regulatory Affairs was established to assist industry, governments, and the public in addressing issues affecting Transportation and Regulated Industries that are relevant to the well-being and growth of industry and commerce.    Efficient and low-cost transportation services are essential to both industry and the public in our geographically large country, so the evolution of sound industrial strategy, public policy, and progressive legislation and regulations are increasing in importance as business moves further towards globalization.  Industry needs to be innovative to compete.  The Institute will contribute to this competitive challenge through its Education and Public Policy Research activities. 

The Institute was incorporated federally in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization, and was granted affiliation with the University of Calgary in 1992, The University of Alberta in 1998, and with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in January 2000.  Its Board of Directors brings together the experience and knowledge of a broad group of individuals – representing shippers, carriers, government, and the academic community – that have an interest in transportation and related regulatory issues.

The Institute strives to access the best knowledge, expertise and information available, and plays a unique role as liaison between the business and academic community.  The close relationship with the University of Calgary has resulted in the development of the Transportation Theme School. Building on this initiative, the University of Calgary and SAIT have collaborated to develop a four-year transportation degree program.  This unique initiative (entitled 2 + 2) allows a student to access a program in Supply Chain Management and Logistics at SAIT for two years and choose to either join the workforce upon completion of the first two years or to “ladder” into an additional two years studies at the University of Calgary leading to a Major degree in transportation. To encourage students to enter this post-secondary collaborative program, the Institute is pleased to support the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI) designed to introduce course materials in supply chain and logistics to students at the secondary level.

The Institute has also established a solid reputation for producing vital and objective research work, and providing recommendations on current policy issues through workshops and forums.  The Institute pursues this longer-term objective of developing public policy research through the creation of three subordinate Centres for Transportation, Regulatory Affairs and Information and Communication.  The work program for each centre is determined by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from industry and the academe.  The resulting research continues to have relevance over the longer term. 

The Steering Committee in each Centre is also tasked with creating education opportunities in their specific areas to assist in the development of a knowledgeable workforce throughout Canada.