Apparently the Rizzutos became their own crime family whenever Joe Massino ordered the murder of Bonanno captain Gerlando Sciascia.

Did Montreal break off from the Bonanno Family after the murder of Gerlando Sciascia in 1999?

After becoming a cooperating witness Bonanno Underboss, Sal Vitale, revealed that emissaries were sent to Canada to name a new captain of the Montreal decina. Vitale, who was one of the Bonannos sent to Montreal said he offered Vito Rizzuto the position, but he turned it down and instead suggested it go to his father. There are conflicting reports on what happened after this, Daniel Renaud's Vito Rizzuto: La Chute Du Dernier Parrain book has Vitale confirming Nicolo Rizzuto as Captain of the Montreal decina but Andre Cedilot & Andre Noel's Mafia Inc book has Vitale leaving Montreal with the Captain position vacant and states "The assassination of George from Canada would cast a permanent pall over relations between the Bonanno family and the Rizzuto clan. But business continued. And Vito remained a good soldier." Sal Vitale also testified the last known position he knew Vito Rizzuto held was Acting Captain.

As stated in the Court of Appeal, Rizzuto v. United States Of America, 2004, "The appellant is described by an informer as “an extremely powerful and influential member of the Canadian faction of the Bonanno family.” He still pays his dues to the family every year."

Dominick Cicale, a former Bonanno Captain revealed that he was told by Baldo Amato that Sal Montagna was acting as a liaison to Montreal and collecting tribute from them in the early/mid 2000s, a tribute that was increased as well. Although Baldo has been off the street serving a life sentence he received in 2006, he carried a lot of influence on the younger Sicilian Bonannos, including Sal Montagna. Cicale also claimed Basciano was receiving drug shipments from Canada.

Cicale's claim is later supported by recorded conversations between Joe Massino and Vinny Basciano in MDC Brooklyn in 2005. One of the conversations was about Montagna travelling to Canada to find his cousin work. Another conversation discussed how Canada sent word they wanted a certain associate placed with Montagna. A third topic of conversation between the two Bonanno leaders was the recent death of Montreal Bonanno Soldier, Frank Cotroni Sr., and how his death added another slot for upcoming inductions.

Both versions of the aftermath of Vitale's meetings show Montreal was still apart of the Bonannos organization after Sciascia's murder. The discussions between Basciano and Massino in 2005, along with Cicale's statements show the Bonannos, via Montagna, had ongoing interests in or with their Canadian counterparts. Furthermore, the discussions show Montreal was involved with internal Bonanno matters, requesting an associate with be placed with the conduit between NY and Montreal, I.e. Montagna. Therefore, we can reasonably say that no separation between Montreal and the Bonannos happened during or in the time shortly after Sciascia's 1999 murder.

Source: Vito Rizzuto: La Chute Du Dernier Parrain by Daniel Renaud, Mafia Inc by Andre Cedilot & Andre Noel. Court of Appeal, Rizzuto v. United States Of America, 2004, Salvatore Vitale's testimony, Basciano trial, 2006. The Cicale Files by Dominick Cicale & Ed Scarpo. Vincent Basciano & Joseph Massino's recorded conversations inside MDC Brooklyn, 2005.