Rick Robertson | IIVC: Will new program fail?

In January, the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) pilot program was introduced, which requires foreign investors who have a net worth of at least $10 million to make a $2 million, non-guaranteed investment in the Canadian venture-capital market for 15 years in exchange for permanent residency.

The program is getting mixed reviews, some saying it will better serve Canada's economic interests than the program it replaces, and some saying the IIVC is too strict and is destined to fail.

"I'd put the price pretty high, because I think people are willing to pay," says Ivey professor Rick Robertson. "It's that simple."