The squares are pretty and clean, but unless there's programming going on, there's nothing active to engage people. I was down there on the past couple of weekends and while the water's edge was crowded almost shoulder to shoulder, the squares were pretty much deserted. Yes, it will help when the construction on QQ is finished, and it will also help if the cultural village ever gets installed, but the two squares will still only be spaced you walk through to get to the water or the cultural village.
I know it's been said before, but a fountain or splash pad would go a long way to providing something active to engage people and keep them in the squares....especially Ontario square which at the moment just seems grey and lifeless.