Study, but not work. A TD spouse may study but may not work, so the spouse should first establish whether their own qualifications support an independent route, such as the computer systems analyst profession under TN, and pursue that before the move.
Settle the spouse's own route before the principal's start date
Hypothetical example: the economist's husband works in the province's IT unit and expects to find a job after arrival. In TD status he may enrol in a program but may not work, including remote work for a Canadian employer performed from inside the United States. His own route would depend on his citizenship, his degree and a prearranged offer: the USMCA list includes computer systems analyst, met by a baccalaureate degree or a post-secondary diploma or certificate plus three years of experience, and a U.S.
employer would need to offer that work. If he is a Canadian citizen he could apply at a port of entry on his own file; if he is a permanent resident only, TN is unavailable to him. Sequence his job search and any offer so that his admission can be requested at the same time as hers, rather than assuming the TD status will be converted after arrival.
Children in TD may study but may not work.