The Canadian Home Video Rating System is a voluntary (though seemingly universal) system for rating videocassettes and DVD's for rental in Canada. The ratings are derived from an average of the ratings given by the provincial movie review boards (who rate movies for theatre release), and are as follows:
G - General, suitable for all ages.
PG - Parental guidance.
14A - Those under 14 should view with an adult, and cannot rent or purchase the movie.
18A - Those under 18 should view with an adult, and cannot rent or purchase the movie.
R - Restricted to those over 18.
E - Exempt.
As mentioned before the provinces review movies for theatre release, though they generally follow this rating scheme (permissive Quebec substitutes 12A for 14A and 16A for 18A).
Many people find this rating system confusing for a number of reasons. For one, many videocassettes in Canada sport three ratings, one from the MPAA, one from the provincial authority, and one from the CHVRS. Second, the Canadian ratings are usually more lenient that their US counterparts. Many movies that receive an 'R' ratings in the US get a 'PG' in Canada.
The different attitudes among the provinces also complicate things. Conservative ratings boards in Alberta and the Maritimes tend to give strict ratings, while those in the rest of the country (especially Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia) give much more lenient ratings - which when averaged together result in the usually less strict CHVRS rating. | 
