A national monitoring agency says the continuing expansion into Ontario of Montreal's Rizzuto clan could bring about conflict. But one authority says the clans get along fine.

By Paul Cherry / Montreal Gazette

The continued expansion of a Montreal crime family into Ontario could bring about a conflict, a national monitoring agency predicts.

Only two pages of a 55-page annual report on organized crime, issued yesterday by Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, deal with the Italian Mafia's influence in the country.

But most of the information focuses on the Rizzuto family, alleged by federal authorities to be headed by Vito Rizzuto, 56, a private man who lives in a luxury home in north-end Montreal.

The report says: "The Sicilian crime family based in Montreal will continue to extend and consolidate its influence outside of Quebec to other parts of Canada with a particular emphasis on Ontario.

"The extension of this Sicilian crime family's influence into Ontario potentially could create conflict with established (Mafia) families in the area."

While the report does not mention the Rizzuto family by name, it is clear it is referring to Vito Rizzuto in its description of the "alleged prominent member of this Sicilian family."

It refers, in generic terms, to an attempt to kidnap Rizzuto last summer that was thwarted by the Sûreté du Québec. The report also refers to a settlement Rizzuto made with the Tax Court of Canada last year as federal authorities went after more than $1.5 million in revenue Rizzuto did not declare during the 1980s.

The annual report, which also summarizes activities of other gangs like the Hells Angels, alleges that the Rizzuto family's "influence has extended throughout Quebec and into other provinces, particularly Ontario."

"It has connections to other Sicilian clans throughout Canada and internationally including Venezuela and the United States."

Toronto journalist Antonio Nicaso, who has written several books on the Mafia, was not impressed with the CISC report.

He said the Rizzuto family's expansion into Ontario has been alleged for a while.