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)))))))))) (. .)))
This kind of referent usage is celebrated in the U.S. as a sign of education.
( ( ( This kind ) ( of ( referent usage ) ) ) ( ( is ( ( celebrated ( in ( the U.S. ) ) ) ( as ( ( a sign ) ( of education ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT This) (NN kind)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ referent) (NN usage)))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN celebrated) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNP U.S.))) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN sign)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN education))))))) (. .)))