Warfield sets AI rules as local governments grapple with growing technology

Warfield sets AI rules as local governments grapple with growing technology

Published 8:00 am Thursday, August 20, 2026

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used as a tool in workplaces and public-sector organizations, prompting local governments to consider how the technology can be used responsibly without compromising privacy, security or human decision-making.

The rapid growth is reflected in national figures.

Statistics Canada reported this year that 19.2 per cent of Canadian businesses had used AI to produce goods or deliver services during the previous 12 months, up from 12.2 per cent in 2025 and 6.1 per cent in 2024.

In the Greater Trail area, governments are at different stages of tackling the rapidly evolving technology.

The Village of Warfield is the latest to put formal rules in place, adopting a responsible-use policy last month.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) adopted a broader technology and artificial intelligence policy in February 2025, while the City of Trail and Village of Fruitvale do not currently have policies governing AI use.

Warfield council approved Policy GOV-2026-07 — Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence — during its July 13 regular meeting and directed staff to implement it.

The policy was brought forward by chief administrative officer David Perehudoff following a recommendation from the village’s external auditor during the 2025 audit of Warfield’s financial statements.

The auditor recommended the village establish a formal framework for responsible use, risk management and staff accountability.

Warfield’s current use of AI is limited, primarily involving research assistance, document drafting and editing, summarization and general productivity support.

In his council memo, Perehudoff said its use could eventually expand into areas such as public works, asset management, records management, customer service and finance.

The policy allows approved AI tools to be used for low-risk administrative work but makes clear that AI is intended to assist, not replace, municipal decision-making.

Final responsibility remains with village staff or council.

It also draws firm lines around privacy and decision-making.

Personal, confidential or other sensitive village information cannot be entered into public AI tools, while AI cannot make final decisions involving matters such as employment, bylaw enforcement, permits, procurement, taxation, utilities or land use.

Perehudoff’s report also warns that AI can produce inaccurate, incomplete or fabricated information — commonly referred to as “hallucinations” — and may reflect bias.

For those reasons, AI-generated content is to be treated as draft material and carefully reviewed before being relied upon, circulated or published.

Perehudoff noted that formal AI governance practices are still emerging in B.C., with limited but increasing examples of policies and public-facing AI use among local governments and the broader public sector.

One local government that moved earlier is the RDKB.

The regional board of directors adopted its Technology and Artificial Intelligence Policy on Feb. 12, 2025.

Unlike Warfield’s policy, the RDKB document deals with technology more broadly, including mobile devices, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365, third-party AI systems and emerging technologies.

The policy acknowledges that AI is already embedded in many programs used in everyday workplaces and sets out a framework aimed at improving service delivery, operational efficiency and accessibility while protecting private information.

Among its objectives are using AI to improve public access to services, streamline communications and increase employee productivity.

The policy also addresses the potential effect on local-government employment, calling for training and reskilling so employees can work alongside emerging technologies in a way that complements rather than eliminates staff and CUPE members’ duties and responsibilities.

The RDKB policy calls for a cross-departmental AI and Technology Governance Committee to oversee implementation and address privacy, cybersecurity and ethical risks. Employees are also to receive ongoing training on the appropriate use and limitations of AI and other technologies.

New and emerging technologies, including generative AI and AI-powered programs for data analytics, public assistance, public safety, emergency response and process automation, are to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The policy also addresses transparency, privacy and bias, including a provision that the public should be clearly informed about the use of AI in RDKB operations, particularly when interacting with AI-driven tools or systems.

The City of Trail, meanwhile, has not yet developed a formal AI policy, although the municipality expects the subject will need to be considered.

“The city does not currently have an AI policy; however, with the prevalence of the technology being much more accessible, it will be a document that we will have to consider in the near future,” David Moorhead, Trail’s general manager of corporate services, told the Trail Times.

Fruitvale is also without a formal policy, with chief administrative officer Patricia Dehnel confirming the village does not have a policy governing the use of AI by staff.

That leaves local governments taking different approaches as the technology continues to develop; however, both Warfield and the RDKB anticipate their guidelines will need to adapt as AI evolves.