The owners of the St. Laurent Shopping Centre are awaiting city approval for a plan to expand the east-end mall into one of Canada's biggest shopping destinations.

If the $200-million project is given the go-ahead, the mall would double in size and rival Toronto's Eaton Centre. It would be the biggest mall in Ottawa, and one of the 10 largest malls in Canada.

The plan has shoppers and storeowners excited.

"Ottawa needs a little boost," said Grant Shacker, an employee at Vernini Uomo. "We need more enthusiasm from the public."

"It will be more stores and more jobs and stuff," added shopper Robert Groulx.

"Oh, wow. That would be really exciting," said shopper Sharlene Cyr.

City staff is recommending that council approve the plan. The planning and environment committee will discuss the proposal at its next meeting on Tuesday.

If the proposal is given the green light, it will likely be at least two years before construction gets underway.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem