Federal Liberal leadership candidate Justin Trudeau speaks to an audience in Sudbury, ON. on Thursday, December 20, 2012. (JOHN LAPPA/QMI AGENCY) Trudeau's Wilfrid Laurier reference half right: Expert Justin Trudeau should respond to critics, Garneau says Critics question Trudeau's speaking engagement at Islamic Spirit conference Justin Trudeau says he has some of his father's talents Justin Trudeau could win on popularity and political street smarts Justin Trudeau speaks to radical conference?

TORONTO - Justin Trudeau addressed his critics head-on during a heavily criticized keynote speech at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit conference Saturday, saying he respected their right to “express their opinions.”

“But I want you to know that I will always stand up to the politics of division and fear,” Trudeau said. “It is short-sighted to pit groups of Canadians against one another.”

The Liberal Party leadership candidate greeted thousands of members of Toronto’s Muslim community with a story of his “second favourite prime minister” who chose to “find common ground between people of differing beliefs” — Wilfrid Laurier.