The external affairs ministry has taken up the issue of denial of visa to Indian national with Canadian High Commission. Official sources said the issue was taken up after the Union Home ministry wrote a letter to the foreign secretary Nirupama Rao after a former IB official was denied visa to Canada.<br/> <br/><br/>In his letter to the foregin secretary, Home secretary Mr G K Pillai has stated that the stance of the Canadian authorities are unacceptable and discriminatory. Sources said that Canada has refused visa to more than 10 people so far.<br/><br/><br/>In an earlier incident, involving a deputy director of intelligence bureau who was to visit Canada ahead of the trip of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit in next month for the G-20 summit was denied visa. Later, the IB officer was given visa.<br/> <br/><br/>This sparked a row prompting Canada's foreign ministry spokesperson Catherine Loubier to issue a statement saying that her country has the highest regard for India's democratic institutions.