The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Barrick Gold's new chief executive officer defended the company's decision to lay off more than half of the staff at its Toronto head office before Christmas, saying it was a necessary move in a difficult market. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that Barrick issued layoff notices to about 95 people at its headquarters in December, bringing its head count down to about 65. CEO Mark Bristow told The Globe there are no plans to shut the office entirely. In another sign of Barrick's diminished presence in the country, the gold miner announced a revamped board on which only one of nine members is Canadian. Leaving the board are Anthony Munk, son of Barrick founder Peter Munk; mining consultant Graham Clow; and Robert Prichard, who is chairman of Bank of Montreal. Another Canadian director, Nancy Lockhart, stepped down on the eve of Barrick's $6-billion (U.S.) acquisition of Randgold Resources Ltd. after voicing disagreement over the deal, which closed Tuesday. The sole Canadian left on Barrick's board is Michael Evans, the president of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., who lives in New York. Joining Barrick's new board are Mr. Bristow, Christopher Coleman and Andrew Quinn.