TORONTO -- An independent advisory committee has recommended to the Canadian government that nations completely rethink their approach to culture as an industry in the information-based global economy.

"It's a call to the wider community to discuss and debate the issue," said Ken Stein, committee chair, a way to "preserve our own individual expression in what is already an open border."

The Cultural Industries Sectoral Advisory Group on International Trade is a 16-member organization representing Canadian broadcasters, cable executives, arts organizations, multimedia and film producers, cultural industries and copyright experts. Its report, commissioned by Canada's Department of International Trade two years ago, is called "Canadian Culture in a Global World: New Strategies for Culture and Trade."

The Committee on Culture is one of a number of panels assembled in the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement to advise the government.

"It has become obvious that culture, far from being some sort of orphan or side play, had become a central part of the new economy," said Stein. "So rather than simply trying to exempt it or take it off the table in trade discussions, it was necessary to develop new approaches to adapt our policies to anticipate and respond to change."

One of the report's recommendations calls for the negotiation of an international treaty on cultural activities that would be effective worldwide.

The group said its ideas have some international backing but was not specific regarding which countries have pledged their support.