Two ears and the tail on this one, Margaret Wente!

As you say, the core reason most Canadians in and outside Quebec want to  discourage full face coverings is to encourage social integration.  

As well, there are issues of the integrity of the public entitlements/services process which should require both the public servants and the public served to fully reveal their identities, the security of the public and tellers,  pharmacists and others vulnerable to robberies, and most importantly the emancipation of Muslim women from this dehumanizing, demeaning, isolating male domination tactic.

You note Canadians in and outside of Quebec by large margins as well as the citizens and governments of several advanced and tolerant western European countries have banned these face coverings in general or in specific settings.

Be aware as well that several Muslim countries - most notably Egypt - have banned or restricted the wearing of full face coverings.  Are they anti-Muslim?   Hardly.