It can, since the actual investor's own funds need to be clearly identified and traced. If more than one family member contributed to the investment, each contributor's role, nationality, and control rights need their own review.
Untangle joint proceeds before treating them as one investment
Identify precisely how much of the sale proceeds belongs to the actual E-2 applicant, as opposed to other family members who may have their own separate plans. If more than one relative intends to invest or hold ownership, address each person's nationality and role individually rather than treating the family as a single undifferentiated investor.
Reconcile the sale ledger before deciding who is the investor. Record each relative's ownership of the Canadian asset, net distribution, citizenship, contribution to the American enterprise, percentage interest, voting rights, and planned activity. Investor and enterprise treaty nationality remain required, with the company at least 50% treaty-national owned; Canadian permanent residence is not Canadian citizenship. A principal develops and directs through 50% ownership or operational control. Employment authorization is incident to E-2 status for a spouse, but that permission does not turn pooled family money into the principal's traceable capital. The usual mistake is calling all proceeds "ours" when agreements and bank records allocate them differently.
Hypothetical example: Three relatives sell an orchard-preserves operation near Strathroy-Caradoc, and one sister plans a U.S. specialty-food company. Her closing share funds the investment; a brother's additional transfer is documented under its true gift or loan terms. Her spouse's intended work is planned under valid spousal status, separately from enterprise control. The ownership table prevents another relative's nationality or reserved voting power from being hidden inside a family total.