AI Consulting · Government & Public Sector · BC Interior
Your organization already has an AI problem. The question is whether you're managing it.
AI strategy, policy frameworks, and staff training for BC municipalities, regional districts, and Indigenous governments — from someone who understands rural governance and has no product to sell you.
The policy vacuum
Why this can't wait until next budget cycle.
Your staff are already using AI — with or without policy
ChatGPT, Copilot, Grammarly, and dozens of other AI tools are in use right now by public sector employees across BC. Without a policy, you have no visibility, no control over what data is being shared, and no liability protection. Every week without a framework is a week of unmanaged exposure.
Provincial and federal frameworks are being written now
BC and the federal government are actively developing AI governance standards for the public sector. Organizations that have already built internal policies will be ahead of compliance requirements — and will have a seat at the table in shaping what those standards look like.
Residents and media are starting to ask
AI is in the news constantly. It's only a matter of time before a resident or local journalist asks your council "what's your AI policy?" Having a clear, thoughtful answer is no longer optional — it's basic governance.
The efficiency gains are real and urgently needed
Rural and regional governments are chronically understaffed relative to their service areas. AI doesn't replace staff — it eliminates the administrative overhead that burns them out. Governments that adopt early will be able to do more with what they have.
Services
From first briefing to full implementation.
All work is fixed-scope, fixed-price. No hourly billing surprises. Designed to fit within standard procurement thresholds.
From $1,800
Half-day
Council & Leadership Briefing
A non-technical overview for elected officials and senior staff. What AI is, how it's already entering your organization, what the policy gaps are, and what peer governments are doing. Designed for a council chamber, not a tech conference.
Deliverable
Written briefing document + FAQ for public communications
From $2,800
Full day
Staff AI Literacy Training
Hands-on training for department heads and frontline staff. What tools are safe to use, what isn't appropriate for government context, how to evaluate AI outputs, and practical workflows for their roles.
Deliverable
Training materials + acceptable use guidelines template
From $5,000
2–4 weeks
AI Policy & Governance Framework
A practical policy framework covering acceptable use, procurement criteria, data privacy, public transparency, and staff guidelines. Written in plain language your staff will actually read — not legalese designed to sit in a drawer.
Deliverable
Complete policy document + implementation checklist
From $4,000
2–3 weeks
Use Case Assessment
A structured audit of your organization's workflows to identify where AI can reduce administrative burden, improve service delivery, or free up staff time. Produces a prioritized, costed roadmap you can take to council or Treasury.
Deliverable
Prioritized opportunity report + budget estimates
$2,500/mo
Ongoing retainer
Implementation Oversight
Ongoing advisory as your organization begins adopting AI tools. Vendor evaluation, procurement guidance, implementation checkpoints, and a standing advisor relationship to navigate issues as they arise.
Deliverable
Monthly report + standing advisory access
Quoted on scope
Varies
RFP Response Support
Need to issue an RFP for an AI system and don't know how to write the evaluation criteria? Or want an independent technical reviewer for proposals you've received? I can fill either role.
Deliverable
RFP criteria document or vendor evaluation report
The process
Simple, low-friction, designed for public-sector realities.
Free Scoping Call
30 minutes to understand your organization's size, current situation, most urgent needs, and any constraints (budget cycles, council sensitivities, existing vendor relationships). No commitment.
Proposal
A written scope of work with timeline, deliverables, and fixed price. No hourly surprises. Designed to fit within your procurement thresholds where possible to keep the process simple.
Engagement
Work begins. I keep you informed throughout. Most engagements include a kickoff, working sessions with relevant staff, and a final presentation to leadership or council.
Handoff
Everything I produce is yours — fully editable, not locked into a proprietary format or platform. You can implement with your own staff, extend with future consultants, or continue with ongoing advisory.
Budget questions?
There are funding sources that cover this.
Several grant programs in BC and federally support exactly this kind of capacity-building work. Many engagements can be partially or fully offset. Ask me about this in our scoping call.
Capacity-building grants for local governments and non-profits in northern and central BC. AI literacy and digital strategy are eligible project types.
Various grant streams for member municipalities. Community Excellence Awards and specific capacity funding programs can apply to AI readiness work.
Federal programs supporting digital skills and infrastructure for underserved communities and public institutions.
Capacity-building funding streams for First Nations governments. Digital governance and data sovereignty are active priority areas.
Why this works
Not a big firm. Not from Vancouver. Actually from here.
Most AI consultants who approach government are either large firms billing at enterprise rates, or urban technologists who don't understand the realities of a 12-person municipality managing a 22,000 km² service area. I do.
I live in Clearwater. I sit on the Chamber board. I have a standing relationship with TNRD. When I talk about rural governance constraints, I'm not reading from a case study — I'm describing the community I'm in.
Common questions
Questions leadership teams typically ask before engaging.
We already have Microsoft 365 / Copilot. Doesn't that cover AI?
Microsoft Copilot is a tool. Having access to it is not the same as having a strategy for it. Most organizations that have deployed Copilot have no policy on what data staff can input, no training on appropriate use, and no idea which workflows actually benefit from it. That gap is exactly what this engagement addresses.
How do we handle FOIPA and privacy requirements with AI?
This is the right question to be asking. AI tools that process citizen data, internal records, or sensitive documents carry real FOIPA and PIPA implications depending on where the data is processed and stored. Part of a governance framework is explicitly mapping which use cases are safe, which require controls, and which should be prohibited entirely.
What if our staff are resistant or concerned about AI taking their jobs?
Staff resistance is normal and usually comes from a lack of information, not from bad faith. In every organization I've worked with, properly framed AI literacy training — focused on "here's what this does for your role" rather than "here's the technology" — shifts that dynamic significantly. The goal is never replacement; it's reducing the administrative burden that makes public sector work harder than it needs to be.
Can we start small without committing to a full policy engagement?
Yes. A Council & Leadership Briefing is a low-commitment starting point — a half-day session that gives elected officials and senior staff enough context to have an informed conversation about next steps. Many organizations start there and expand from there. Nothing is bundled or locked in.
Do we need to disclose our AI use to residents?
Increasingly, yes — and getting ahead of this is better than being asked. A good governance framework includes a transparency policy: what AI the organization uses, for what purposes, and what data it touches. Several BC municipalities are already publishing these. Having a clear public-facing answer before you're asked is a governance strength, not a liability.
How does this fit within our procurement rules?
Most engagements are scoped and priced to fall within standard direct-award thresholds for professional services, which simplifies the procurement process considerably. For larger or longer engagements, I can provide documentation to support your standard procurement process. Reach out and I'll be straightforward about what applies to your situation.
Get in touch
The free scoping call is the right first step.
30 minutes to talk through your situation — current AI exposure, staff concerns, policy gaps, upcoming budget cycles, and what a realistic first engagement looks like. No commitment, no sales pitch.
If you prefer to send an initial email, include your organization name, rough staff count, and the most pressing AI-related issue on your radar right now. I'll respond within one business day.
Based in Clearwater, BC. Active with TNRD and the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce. Available in person across interior BC and remotely across Canada.