Canada's Green Party admits to altering image of party leader holding disposable cup

Canada’s Green Party is facing heavy criticism after editing an image of their party leader, Elizabeth May, holding a disposable cup.

May said in a statement Tuesday that she was “completely shocked” to find out that the party had doctored the picture.

The original photo, which was taken last year at the Sidney Street Market in British Columbia, showed May holding an open, disposable cup. The doctored photo shows May holding a reusable plastic cup with a lid and metal straw.

The party leader argued that the photo was edited by “well-meaning party staff” who wanted to brand the image with the party logo. She says she had nothing to hide in the original photo as the disposable cup was compostable and didn’t have a plastic straw.

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“My personal daily practice is to avoid single use plastic items 100% of the time,” May said in the statement. “I never drink from plastic water bottles. I always carry my own reusable coffee cup. I carry my own bamboo utensils. I walk the talk every day.”

According to CNN, an archived version of the party’s homepage in June showed the original photo. A month later, it was switched out with the doctored photo of May holding the reusable plastic cup and metal straw.

The Green Party didn’t immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.

The party revealed a platform that is specifically committed to reducing plastic waste in the next 10 years. The BBC reports that Canadians will head to the polls on Oct. 21 in what will be May’s fourth general election.

Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canada’s Green Party edits image of Elizabeth May with disposable cup