While Vito and Nick rose to power by murder by all means Vito was known more for keeping peace than to kill. Granted they were pretty ruthless getting to the top, but while Vito reigned over the GTA he wasn't quite known for being a ruthless individual. Only after he was sent away was when the major violence started and he continued when he came back home. Remember the papers up there were calling him a dead man walking when he re-entered the GTA.

He controlled ALL of the construction there and the drug pipeline. That is pretty good money. I'm not ready to say they made MORE than all 5 families combined but I am willing to say they made more money than most of the 5 NY families for sure.

As for the laws yes they are not as bad North of the border but that doesn't change the fact the RMCP continued to go after the family trying to keep him behind bars and couldn't do it.