Retrieval-First MCP Server

Tagline: "Government information, retrieved and explained."

This MCP server provides government program information based solely on freshly retrieved documents from pre-approved sources. It operates on a strict retrieval-first principle, ensuring all responses are grounded in official sources without prior knowledge or assumptions.

Quick Start

npm install
npm run build
npm run inspector  # Test the server

See Deployment Guide for complete installation instructions.

What This MCP Does

• Retrieves verbatim text from pre-approved government URLs
• Provides retrieved text directly from official sources
• Performs conservative eligibility assessments using rules engine
• Includes source URLs and verification dates in all outputs

Strict compliance: No summaries, explanations, or answers without retrieval. Returns verbatim retrieved text only.

Scope (v1)

• Country + Province: Canada + Alberta
• Domains: Taxes & Benefits, Small Business Administration
• Programs: GST Credit, Canada Child Benefit, Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit, GST Registration, Payroll Deductions

Tools Exposed

1. explain_program(program_id) - Retrieved text from official source
2. get_eligibility_criteria(program_id) - Retrieved text from official source
3. eligibility_check(program_id, user_context) - Conservative eligibility assessment using rules engine
4. generate_checklist(program_id) - Retrieved text from official source
5. timeline(program_id) - Retrieved text from official source
6. questions_for_professional(program_id) - Retrieved text from official source

Data Sources

• Canada.ca
• CRA official publications
• Alberta.ca program pages
• Public PDFs, bulletins, guides

No scraping forums. No third-party "tips".

Architecture

• Retrieval-First Principle: All responses based on freshly retrieved documents from pre-approved URLs
• Verbatim Storage: Retrieved text stored exactly as received
• Retrieval Operation: Only verbatim text from pre-approved sources (no external data)
• Rules Engine: Deterministic eligibility checks (no LLM involvement)
• Error Handling: Retrieval failures return errors only, no fallbacks
• Output Requirements: All responses include source URL and last_verified date

Design choice: Retrieval only. Fail loudly on constraint violations.

What We Explicitly DO NOT Build

❌ "How to minimise tax"
❌ "Best way to qualify"
❌ Edge-case exploitation
❌ Advice framed as instruction

We are a translator, not a strategist.

This keeps us out of trouble and attractive to institutions.

Pricing Strategy

• Individual: $8–12/month CAD
• Small business: $19–29/month
• Professional / org: Seat-based or bulk licensing

Cheap insurance against mistakes.

Documentation

Getting Started

• Deployment Guide - Complete installation and configuration instructions
• Usage Examples - Real-world scenarios and tool demonstrations

Technical Documentation

• Architecture - Technical design, data flow, and design decisions
• API Reference - Tool specifications, parameters, and schemas
• Testing Guide - Testing procedures and validation

Support & Contributing

• Troubleshooting - Common issues and solutions
• Contributing Guidelines - How to contribute to the project

Installation

Quick Install

# 1. Install dependencies
npm install

# 2. Build the server
npm run build

# 3. Test with Inspector
npm run inspector

MCP Client Configuration

Add to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop):

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "plain-gov-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/absolute/path/to/PlainGov-MCP/build/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Important: Use absolute paths and restart your MCP client after configuration.

See Deployment Guide for detailed instructions.

Usage

Available Tools

1. explain_program - Get program information from official sources
2. get_eligibility_criteria - Retrieve eligibility requirements
3. eligibility_check - Check eligibility based on user context
4. generate_checklist - Get application checklist
5. timeline - Get key dates and deadlines
6. questions_for_professional - Get questions to ask professionals

Example Usage

Check GST Credit eligibility:

User: "Am I eligible for GST Credit? Income: $45,000, live in Canada"

Server uses eligibility_check tool:
- Status: eligible
- Includes source URL and verification date
- Provides disclaimer

See Usage Examples for comprehensive scenarios.

Features

Retrieval-First Architecture

• All responses based on freshly retrieved documents
• No cached content or prior knowledge
• Verbatim text from official sources
• Source attribution in every response

Conservative Eligibility Assessment

• Deterministic rules engine (no LLM)
• Errs on side of caution
• Clear status indicators (eligible/not_eligible/unclear)
• Identifies missing information

Compliance & Trust

• Strict adherence to retrieval-first constraints
• Fail loudly on errors (no fallbacks)
• Complete source traceability
• Regular verification dates

See Architecture Documentation for technical details.

Compliance with Constraints

• No summaries/explanations without retrieval: All content based on freshly retrieved documents
• Retrieval restrictions: Only verbatim text from pre-approved sources, no prior knowledge
• Retrieval failures: Return error objects only, no fallbacks
• Output standards: Include source URL and last_verified date in all responses
• Rules engine: Eligibility uses deterministic logic, no LLM
• Fail loudly: System errors on any constraint violation

Ethical Guidelines

• No advice or interpretation
• Conservative eligibility assessments
• Direct to official sources only
• Clear disclaimers: "This is not advice"
• No optimization or loophole suggestions

Testing

Manual Testing with Inspector

npm run inspector

Open the provided URL in your browser to test tools interactively.

Automated Testing

See Testing Guide for comprehensive testing procedures.

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions are documented in the Troubleshooting Guide.

Quick fixes:

• Server not appearing? Check configuration file syntax and restart client
• Retrieval failures? Verify internet connection
• Tools not working? Test with MCP Inspector

Contributing

We welcome contributions that align with the retrieval-first principles and core mission.

Before contributing:

1. Read Contributing Guidelines
2. Review Architecture Documentation
3. Understand constraint compliance requirements

Ways to contribute:

• Add new government programs
• Improve documentation
• Report bugs
• Suggest enhancements

See CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines.

Project Status

Current Version: 0.1.0 Status: Production-ready with comprehensive documentation

Completed:

• ✅ Core retrieval-first implementation
• ✅ 5 government programs (Canada & Alberta)
• ✅ 6 tools for program information
• ✅ Deterministic eligibility rules engine
• ✅ Comprehensive documentation suite
• ✅ MCP Inspector integration
• ✅ Error handling and compliance mechanisms

Roadmap:

• LLM integration for formatting (with strict constraints)
• Additional provinces and programs
• Caching layer with time-based invalidation
• Enhanced rules engine
• Automated testing suite

Support

Documentation: Start with Deployment Guide Issues: Check Troubleshooting Guide Questions: Review Usage Examples Technical: See Architecture Documentation

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

Built with:

• Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• TypeScript and Node.js
• Official Canadian government sources

Last Updated: 2026-01-10