The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Barrick is being accused of using the virtual format for its annual meeting to suppress critical questions from shareholders. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that virtual AGMs have attracted the ire of some shareholder-rights groups. In April, 38 institutional investors, advisers, portfolio managers and non-profits argued that on-line meetings can undermine rights by allowing companies to cherry-pick questions or change the wording of them. At Tuesday's meeting, Barrick chief executive officer Mark Bristow fielded a handful of queries from shareholders that were submitted on a virtual chat portal. Catherine Coumans, Asia-Pacific co-ordinator with Mining Watch Canada, submitted two probing questions about alleged police brutality at Barrick's North Mara gold mine in Tanzania. Ms. Coumans asked, "How many people have been shot and wounded or killed by police contracted to the mine this year alone, and when will you stop the killing and stop contracting police to guard this mine?" Ms. Coumans's questions were preceded by a succinct preamble outlining her rationale. At the virtual meeting, Mr. Bristow was not read the preamble and not read the specific questions.