I don't know about Canada, Australia, etc., but in the U.S. this kind of referent usage is considered a heinous illiteracy (by those who consider such matters), and those who wish to appear educated would be wise to avoid it.
( ( ( ( ( I ( ( do n't ) ( know ( about ( ( ( ( Canada , ) Australia ) , ) etc. ) ) ) ) ) , ) but ) ( ( ( ( ( in ( the U.S. ) ) ( ( ( this kind ) ( of ( referent usage ) ) ) ( is ( ( considered ( a ( heinous illiteracy ) ) ) ( -LRB- ( ( by ( those ( who ( consider ( such matters ) ) ) ) ) -RRB- ) ) ) ) ) ) , ) and ) ( ( those ( who ( wish ( to ( appear educated ) ) ) ) ) ( would ( be ( wise ( to ( avoid it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . )
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB know) (PP (IN about) (NP (NP (NNP Canada)) (, ,) (NP (NNP Australia)) (, ,) (FW etc.)))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (S (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNP U.S.))) (NP (NP (DT this) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ referent) (NN usage)))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN considered) (NP (DT a) (JJ heinous) (NN illiteracy)) (PRN (-LRB- -LRB-) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT those)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP consider) (NP (JJ such) (NNS matters))))))) (-RRB- -RRB-))))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (NP (NP (DT those)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP wish) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB appear) (ADJP (VBN educated))))))))) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ wise) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB avoid) (NP (PRP it)))))))))) (. .)))
Those who wish to appear education in the U.S. are better served by avoiding this kind of referent usage. 
( ( Those ( who ( wish ( to ( ( appear education ) ( in ( the U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( ( are better ) ( served ( by ( avoiding ( ( this kind ) ( of ( referent usage ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT Those)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP wish) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB appear) (NP (NN education)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNP U.S.)))))))))) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RBR better)) (VP (VBN served) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG avoiding) (NP (NP (DT this) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ referent) (NN usage))))))))) (. .)))