With dozens of world leaders preparing to attend another Summit of the Americas on Friday, thousands of their critics are gathering today in the same spot to hold a meeting of their own.

Representatives from numerous labour, environmental, religious and social welfare groups are holding the Second People's Summit of the Americas in Quebec City.

Organizers say their event, shich starts Monday, is intended to be an alternative to the trade talks being conducted by governments behind closed doors.

They're unhappy with the trend towards what they call "hemispheric integration" – in particular, the proposal to create a massive free trade zone from Alaska to Argentina.

Last weekend, Ottawa announced it had persuaded all 34 countries taking part in the third Summit of the Americas to release a draft of the free trade proposals being discussed.

The text, written in Spanish, is still being translated into three other languages. It's scheduled to be made public within the next few weeks.

But this step towards transparency is not good enough, according to the Hemispheric Social Alliance (HSA), which has organized the alternative people's summit.

The group wants negotiations to take place on a broader scale, with input from local and regional governments.

The HSA also wants guarantees protecting the environment and human rights in any deal that's signed.

Quebec Premier Bernard Landry will officially welcome delegates to the people's summit at the National Assembly Monday afternoon.

The event will wrap up with a march through the streets of Quebec City on Saturday.

Cuba, the only country in the hemisphere not invited to take part in the official Summit of the Americas, plans to send a representative to the people's summit.