FREDERICTON -- New Democrats in New Brunswick have a new leader.

Allison Brewer was elected leader of the provincial party at a leadership review in Fredericton on the weekend.

Brewer, who doesn't hold a seat in the legislature, won on the first ballot with 248 votes out of a possible 397.

She replaces outgoing leader Elizabeth Weir, who announced last fall she was stepping down after 17 years as leader and 14 years as the lone New Democrat in the legislature.

Brewer says her first priority is building the party up.

She says Weir can handle the legislature while she travels the province shoring up support.

"Our values are the values of New Brunswickers, and that's the message I want to get across loud and clear," Brewer said.

"We are concerned about the environment and the economy and health care and education."

Brewer is a social activist and former director of the Morgentaler abortion clinic in Fredericton.