In a strategy whose stated aim is promoting civic engagement, CBC is hooking up with Facebook to ask Canadians to share their visions for the future of the country. The pubcaster launched The Great Canadian Wish List group last Friday, and already more than 1,000 people have joined up at the microsite cbc.ca/wish. The initiative is also backed by youth organization Student Vote.

Building up to Canada Day, Facebook users can get in on the action by posting, reviewing and/or discussing their wishes for a better country. Users must rally behind each idea and persuade other group members to back their wishes.

CBC will track patterns, trends and discussion, and journalists will interact with Facebook users to generate stories for broadcast on CBC TV, radio and cbc.ca/wish. The most popular ideas will be compiled into a feature for CBC’s Canada Day coverage.

Facebook’s user base in Canada is now approaching the three million mark.