The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines are a government publication drafted by two family law professors, Professors Carol Rogerson and Rollie Thompson.

While SSAG is not law and is not mandatory, it helps guide courts. It has been described as a starting point, or as a check on the amount calculated by the Court as appropriate (Wild v Wild, 2019 ABCA 159 at para 11).

While it may be an error for a court to only rely on SSAG as it is only a "cross-check" or a "starting point" (Sawatzky v Sawatzky, 2008 ABCA 355 at paras 16 and 17; Lust v Lust, 2007 ABCA 202), failing to refer to SSAG calculations provided to a judge or explain why the amount or duration falls outside of SSAG's recommendations might make support more likely to be appealed (Wild v Wild, 2019 ABCA 159 at para 12).

The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines can be read at: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/spousal-epoux/spag/pdf/SSAG_eng.pdf

There is also a companion Revised User's Guide, which can be read at: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/spousal-epoux/ug_a1-gu_a1/PDF/ug_a1-gu_a1.pdf