TORONTO - A Burlington family's Christmas get-together ended violently early Tuesday when a 53-year-old man was stabbed in the chest.

"It's a family issue," Halton Regional Police Sgt. Derek Davis told The Toronto Sun.

The wounded man remains in Hamilton General Hospital in critical but stable condition, he said.

Davis said the victim's injury "looked worse this morning, but now that he's stabilized, it's looking better."

Two men were arrested at the Kent Cres. home and taken to the 3 District police station, "but it's early in the investigation," he said. "We're still trying to work out who was responsible."

Davis said everyone in the home near Burloak Dr. and Spruce Ave. around 1 a.m. "was supposed to be there" and knew each other.

Officers are still trying to work out what happened.

Police were guarding the house, which forensic officers will search later for the weapon and clues to the near-fatal stabbing.

With the investigation continuing, names and charges were not released.

Anyone with information should contact Det. Andy Forde at 905-825-4747, ext. 2316.