To tell the OP that she cannot be sponsored as her partner is already married is incorrect.
According to the manual IP08 (applications for Common-law or spouse in Canada) you can be sponsored as a common law partner (providing you meet the 1 year criteria) even if your partner is still married. However, the sponsor can never sponsor their legal wife at a later date.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/ip/ip08-eng.pdf
5.24. Sponsor or common-law partners still married to someone else
Persons who are married to third parties may be considered common-law partners provided their marriage has broken down and they have cohabited in a conjugal relationship with the commonlaw partner for at least one year.
Cohabitation with a common-law partner must have started after a physical separation from the spouse. Evidence of separation from the spouse may include:
• a separation agreement;
• a signed formal declaration that the marriage has ended and that the person has entered into a common-law relationship;
• a court order regarding custody of children; and
• documents removing the legally married spouse(s) from insurance policies or wills as beneficiaries.
In this situation, the legal spouse of the principal applicant cannot subsequently be sponsored as a member of the family class.
According to the manual IP08 (applications for Common-law or spouse in Canada) you can be sponsored as a common law partner (providing you meet the 1 year criteria) even if your partner is still married. However, the sponsor can never sponsor their legal wife at a later date.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/ip/ip08-eng.pdf
5.24. Sponsor or common-law partners still married to someone else
Persons who are married to third parties may be considered common-law partners provided their marriage has broken down and they have cohabited in a conjugal relationship with the commonlaw partner for at least one year.
Cohabitation with a common-law partner must have started after a physical separation from the spouse. Evidence of separation from the spouse may include:
• a separation agreement;
• a signed formal declaration that the marriage has ended and that the person has entered into a common-law relationship;
• a court order regarding custody of children; and
• documents removing the legally married spouse(s) from insurance policies or wills as beneficiaries.
In this situation, the legal spouse of the principal applicant cannot subsequently be sponsored as a member of the family class.