Everyone I've ever dealt with here will treat a Fax or email (if it requires a signature then an image or document in the email) as equally valid. I don't know if any of them have any "legal" status as far as documents go. For something truly important you have to be there in person with a witness.

For my insurance company I don't even need a signature, I can just send an email to my broker with the details I want changed/amended. Changed my car insurance with an email a few months ago.

A fax is less secure than an email, because while not everyone knows how to digitally manipulate a document, any bozo can cut and paste a few pieces of paper together, run them through a photocopier and then toss them into a fax.

I remember arguing with people in the early 90's to accept an email when Fax machines were already out-dated. Today that's no longer a problem as anyone who wants to be in business has a good internet connection. The government of Canada has pretty much most common documents one would require available online in PDF. Many of them can be filled out electronically too, but you'll still have to print them out and send them in by mail, or drop them off in person (passports, etc.)