Manitoba premier says he's the 'guy who's stealing Christmas to keep you safe'

Manitoba premier Brian Pallister held an emotion-packed press conference on Thursday, as he pleaded with his province to "do the right thing" and not celebrate Christmas with those outside of one's household.

The premier called those who deny COVID's severity in the province "idiots."

"If you don't think that COVID's real right now, you're an idiot. You need to understand that we're all in this together... Stay apart. So I'm the guy who has to tell you to stay a part at Christmas and at the holiday season you celebrate. With your faith, or without your faith, that you celebrate normally with friends and family where you share memories and build memories. I'm that guy," said a visibly frustrated Pallister.

"I'm the guy who's stealing Christmas to keep you safe. Because you need to do this now, you need to do the right thing. Next year, we'll have lots to celebrate."

Two weeks ago, Pallister told Manitobans that this was the year "to not get together," besides those within the same households. "real celebration in 2021 at Christmas time would be best if it included all of our family,” Pallister said.

A recent poll conducted by Angus Reid found that Pallister was the least popular premier in Canada, polling at just 32 percent. Compared to British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who both poll twice as popular as Pallister, at 64 percent.

"Manitoba is currently under some of the strictest lockdown measures in the country, with the province asking people to only leave their homes for essentials and restricting private and public gatherings," the poll reads. "Manitoba health officials, alongside Alberta, are dealing with the fastest spread of the virus in the country over the past two weeks on a per capita basis."