Canadians are concerned that Syrian refugees will create a strain on their health care systems and social services, according to an exclusive poll conducted for CityNews by Forum Research.

“These are not encouraging indicator,” said Lorne Bozinoff, the president and founder of Forum Research. “Canadians think these new citizens will prove a burden on our already overtaxed public services and that they will do nothing to enhance the economy.”

In a random sampling of 1,369 Canadian votes, 63 per cent of respondents said they are concerned Syrian refugees settling in Canada will create a strain on health care and social services, with 42 per cent stating they are “very concerned.”

People between the ages 35 to 44 have the highest level of concern, at 47 per cent.

But when it comes to job loss, only 40 per cent of respondents said they are concerned that refugees will take jobs from Canadians, while 56 per cent say they are not concerned.

Only a small number (32 per cent) of Canadians actually think that Syrian refugees will have a positive effect on Canada’s economy. A total of 41 per cent of people think they will not have a positive impact and 27 per cent don’t know if they will.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Canadians are concerned that Syrian refugees are getting preferential treatment in the immigration process. A total of 54 per cent of Canadians in the sample were concerned and 34 per cent were very concerned.

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.

Two Syrian refugee families arrived in Toronto on Wednesday night and 164 more are expected to arrive Thursday at Toronto Pearson International Airport. They’ll be arriving in a Royal Canadian Air Force jet, from a flight out of an airfield in Jordan.