Mortgage Investment Corporations were introduced in Canada in 1973 through the Residential Mortgage Financing Act. Owning shares in a mortgage investment corporation enables you to invest in a company which manages a diversified and secured pool of mortgages.
MICs provide opportunities for the retail investors to participate in mortgage lending and real estate investments on much the same lines as mutual funds, which enhance their earnings by leveraging their investment in residential mortgages and enjoying the spread between the interest paid on borrowed funds and the interest charged on mortgages.
Essentially, the MIC allows the retail investors to share in the benefits of the lucrative and relatively secure mortgage business.