These are investments purchased through banks and trust companies for between one and five years maturity and with a fixed interest rate.
They come with 100% guarantee on your principal. GICs are sometimes called certificates of deposit (CDs).
Please keep in mind that if you need to access money in a GIC before it matures, you'll lose some of your interest.
GICs generally offer higher interest rates than what you would get by keeping your money in a savings account, but you generally will earn less by keeping money in a GIC than you would compared to other investments. And the interest you earn is subject to tax, unless the GIC is in an RRSP.