A Canadian politician has delivered a blunt holiday message to residents: '‘If you don’t think Covid is real right now, you’re an idiot."
Brian Pallister, the premier of Manitoba, gave the stark comment as part of a press conference updating citizens on Christmas celebration restrictions amid the ongoing pandemic.
In comments that went viral, Mr Pallister said: "I will do what I believe is right and right now we need to save lives. If you don’t think Covid’s real right now you’re an idiot.
"You need to understand that we are all in this together, you cannot fail to understand this. Stay apart.
"So I’m the guy that has to tell you to stay apart at Christmas and in 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.”
With his voice breaking, Mr Pallister added he was the “guy stealing Christmas to keep you safe.”
“You need to do this now… because next year we’ll have lots to celebrate."
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“Stay safe, protect each other, love each other… but don’t get together this Christmas," he added.
Manitoba has faced targeted restrictions since October to try and keep Covid-19 rates under control after fears that infection numbers were starting to climb.
Currently residents are expected to wear masks in public and there are restrictions on meeting people from other households.
A second wave of the virus is currently sweeping the country. Canada has reported a total of 389,778 cases of Covid-19 and 12,325 deaths.
Quebec, the second most populous of the 10 provinces, on Thursday reversed course and said different households would not be able to mix in homes for Christmas gatherings in hotspots like Montreal.
It comes as Canadian health authorities could approve Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine within the next week, allowing distribution to start in early 2021, medical officials indicated on Thursday.
Frostsorrow on December 5th, 2020 at 17:40 UTC »
Fuck Brian Pallister with a pineapple. It's his fault our numbers exploded. If he hadn't opened the borders and promoted tourism during a pandemic, didn't cut healthcare, freeze nurses wages, and so many other things. We could have stay with single digit to low double digits but noooooo he didn't take things seriously.
PutFartsInMyJars on December 5th, 2020 at 17:31 UTC »
I love how the press glaze over Brian Pallister’s completely botched response to covid 19.
During the initial planning for an emergency lock down he opted to go to his mansion in Costa Rica
He ran a tourism campaign targeting covid hot spots to travel to Manitoba
Used response funding for said campaign
Dropped a few million on a bid for the grey cup (our Super Bowl) when it was announced football was canceled.
Attacks doctors, attacks nurses
Disbanded union power for teachers and frontline workers
Divested from healthcare and into policing (during and after blm)
Listens to anti maskers
Refused to address outbreaks in the province until the last moment
Stoked racial tensions over vaccines
Refused to use federal money to ensure school safety for students and teachers
Hasn’t had a clear plan
The list goes on
onahotelbed on December 5th, 2020 at 17:22 UTC »
Pallister is an absolute demon. But he's right and right to say this.