An in-depth review of Pearce's Facebook profile shows he follows a debunked online conspiracy theory falsely claiming that every Canadian has a secret trust set up for them when they are born worth millions. According to the fallacy circulating online, only people with specialized knowledge are able to unlock the funds.
Former CRA investigator Shawna Roy says the theory is ludicrous and that there is no pot of money assigned at birth.
"That is not a thing," she said.
The government does "not have a trust assigned to you" when you are born, Roy told the fifth estate.
Shawna Roy, a former CRA investigator, reviewed the results of the fifth estate investigation.
Pearce, however, said he believes more strongly in the debunked conspiracy theory than ever because the CRA did, in fact, give him the money.