Hmm - sent an email from the "contact us" page asking why I couldn't link from my (sponsors) account and if there were any issues I needed to address. Here's the core of the reply:
We have verified the sponsorship application and were unable to find information stating that you are the representative for the principal applicant.
The
Privacy Act ensures that a person's identity and personal information are protected. For this reason, we cannot take action on your request since this file contains personal information about another person.
In order to respond to your inquiry, the principal applicant must provide written consent to IRCC by completing the
Use of a Representative form and submitting it via the
IRCC Web form. You may also contact the appropriate
governing body to verify that you are a member in good standing.
Oh well - I'll have my wife try to make an account and link. Perhaps the different last names confused them?
.... Bruce (still sitting in "Received" as of this morning in ECAS)