I built and fly a VariEze and I can tell you that it handles turbulence quite well. I think that's due to the relatively high wing loading and something about sitting between the two wings (the canard contributes ~25% of the total lift). Anyway, it's a lot more comfortable in turbulence than the Cessna, Beech, and Piper light planes I've flown.

Canard contamination from ice or even a heavy layer of bugs can cause a strong pitch force that may be more than the trim system can compensate for. Not a comfortable situation but the airplane isn't going to fall out of the sky. I've flown in rain and the pitch change is obvious but easily trimmed out.