It has to do with a different type of criminal organization. There are criminal organizations that are territorialized; they control the territory, and what they want is to run the criminal activity. They don't want violence, because violence increases the scrutiny from police and media, and that's what they try to avoid.
You mentioned Italy. In some regions of Italy, the criminal organization has a strong link with the territory. They control the territory and avoid the violence of street gangs or common criminals. In Canada we don't have that type of organization, the type that controls the territory. In some areas we do, but not across the country.