Canada should take care of its own problems before allowing more refugees into the country, say people who are opposed to the government’s refugee plan, according to an exclusive poll conducted for CityNews by Forum Research.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Canadians are split on their support of the government’s plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, with 48 per cent supporting the plan and 44 per cent opposing it.

And of those opposing the plan, the majority say it’s because there are already enough problems in Canada.

Of those who oppose the refugee plan, what are the reasons? GRAPHIC: FORUM

According to a 2014 study, over 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness in a year, and over 35,000 are homeless on any given night.

“Look after Canadians, homeless, elderly people, take care of our own before we start helping everyone else,” said one CityNews viewer. “I sympathise (sic) with the Syrians but we don’t have the room to take in all these immigrants.”

Thirty-nine per cent of respondents say they don’t support the refugee plan because refugees are a terrorism threat, and 35 per cent say the cost of the program is too high.

Regional responses to what circumstances would change respondents’ minds about the refugee plan. GRAPHIC: FORUM

And according to those who opposed the plan, the colour or religion of the refugees would not change their opinions. Only 13 per cent said they would consider backing the plan if the refugees were not Muslim, and 10 per cent said they would change their minds if the refugees were Christian. A full 55 per cent said nothing would change their minds on the program.

“It does not appear overt racism is behind the reluctance some feel about welcoming the Syrian refugees to Canada, but, for a minority, it appears fear and bigotry are acceptable reasons to object to this plan,” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

Fifty per cent of Albertans opposed to the plan said they feared the immigrants represented a terrorism threat, and 33 per cent of Quebecers said refugees represent a threat to their culture.

Results are based on the total sample of 1,369 and are considered accurate plus-or-minus three per cent, 19 times out of 20.

The first mass arrival of 150 Syrian refugees will arrive at Pearson airport on Thursday. They will be arriving in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet, on a flight out of an airfield in Jordan.