Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives' attempt to split the ruling but beleaguered NDP further and bring down the government will down will likely stretch into next week.

Tory Leader Brian Pallister moved a non-confidence motion Monday, which needs a majority of members in the house to pass.

The NDP have a majority of 36 seats, but the Tories, with 19 seats, were likely counting on some of the disgruntled NDP MLAs to vote against their party for the motion to succeed.

Five former cabinet ministers resigned their posts after calling publicly on Premier Greg Selinger to step down.

Andrew Swan, Jennifer Howard, Erin Selby, Stan Struthers and Theresa Oswald remain in the NDP caucus, but their roles have been restricted.

Backbencher Clarence Pettersen, MLA for Flin Flon, also criticized Selinger publicly, while Christine Melnick, a former immigration minister, was shuffled out of cabinet then thrown out of the NDP caucus after tussling publicly with Selinger over an event sparked by the federal government's changes to immigration programs.

Even if the ex-ministers and Petterson and voted in favour of the Tories' non-confidence motion, it would still be defeated.

Speaking to reporters during the noon hour, PC Leader Brian Pallister said it would be a "tragic sacrifice" of principle if the rebellious NDP MLAs prop up Selinger by opposing the non-confidence motion.

The CBC's Chris Glover said it was an unusual scene as Pallister ennumerated the reasons the NDP government should fall, most NDP MLAs trickled out of the chamber. Of the few left, one was reading a paper while two others had their feet up.

And at least one of the rebellious former ministers, Jennifer Howard, said despite her reservations about Selinger's leadership, she will vote with the NDP and against the non-confidence motion.

The Tories' non-confidence motion is expected to come to a vote sometime next week.