What is the difference between spousal support and maintenance?

15. The obligation to provide spousal support arises from different bases and therefore has different characteristics. As discussed in Pelech, the courts in making an award of spousal maintenance are required to analyze the pattern of financial interdependence generated by each marriage relationship and devise a support order that minimizes as far as possible the economic consequences of the relationship's dissolution. Financial provision may be temporary or permanent. Spousal maintenance is the right of the spouse and a spouse can therefore contract as to the amount of maintenance he or she is to receive. Where this happens the court will be strongly inclined to enforce that contract: see Pelech v. Pelech, supra.