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)))))))))) (. .)))
Canada and Australia are soon to adopt American views on referent usage. 
( ( ( Canada and ) Australia ) ( ( ( are soon ) ( to ( ( adopt ( American views ) ) ( on ( referent usage ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NNP Canada) (CC and) (NNP Australia)) (VP (VBP are) (ADVP (RB soon)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB adopt) (NP (JJ American) (NNS views)) (PP (IN on) (NP (JJ referent) (NN usage))))))) (. .)))