If your spouse is studying at a university for a good full time program such as Masters degree, you are eligible and have a good chance of getting open work permit.
One very significant factor is "in sufficient funds". Normally you do not need any of those if you have a confirmed job (or if your spouse was working in NOC 0, A or B). But since he/she is a student, you would need to show enough funds for your stay for a year, since getting an OWP doesn't guarantee you a job.
That ranges between 6-8k CAD as far as i remember. It is listed some where on CIC website.
"Current status of employment" is also highlighted, so probably you are not working in home country in a good situation - at least that is what it seems from this point.
If you could cover all of these points with documents, you might have a good chance, otherwise it would result in similar output - in my opinion
It's not a "can", it's a "have to". If you apply for OWP, you have to submit a trv form along. It is part of the process and listed on CIC's website in the section listing what forms are required for a work permit application. Please read that through.
People who apply for OWP get a temp resident visa along. Work permit itself is not a visa, it is an approval that you receive for embassy initially (called a letter of introduction) and latter a printed paper with monograms of cic when you actually land and stating terms of work. Still there is a separate VISA stamped on passport stating whether you are are worker (W-1), student or visitor.