The Canadian government does not treat applicants with representatives or without representatives differently. Although, in many cases it is beneficial to get legal help as applications can be overwhelming.
To get temporary residence, you would have to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, unless you are from a visa exempt country. There are several required applications for the Temporary Resident Visa that need to be supported with the required documents. More than the application itself, there are certain things you are required to prove to get entry to Canada.