I hope you did exactly as your post said and removed them. I repair composite airplanes part-time and have the engineering background to explain this into the ground as does Joe Person and others that have the technical background.
Rutan has a copy of my tape of the canard load tests. In that test it shows the steel frame (1/4" steel) failing under all the weight when the canard twisted. The lift tabs never failed with all the weight and it was well beyond 30 G's.
For Waiter - No one will never hurt the canard by replacing the lift tabs in the recommended way. The skin that is removed durring this process does not carry the major part of the load but rather the bottom spar cap (only as a refresher to get the gears spinning

). The larger top spar cap is in compression and the bottom spar cap is in tension taking most of the load. Since the cut (1" X 3") is in front of the lift tab there is no weakening of the shear web, top or bottom spar cap that carries the load.
The three new plies of UNI the span over the top to a well sanded surface are in front of the lift taps and is more then enough to re-constitute the strength before the cutting, - as long as it is done correctly.
Thank you for the original poster asking the forum. You more then likely saved your own life. You do not know how many times during the repair of a canard airplane I find deviations from the plans. It just cost the owner money for me to put it back to the way it should be.
Dale