Jeni Armstrong
Instructor II
| Degrees: | B.A. (Waterloo) |
| Phone: | 613-520-2600 x 3257 |
| Email: | JeniArmstrong@cunet.carleton.ca |
| Office: | 2430R Richcraft Hall |
Jeni Armstrong joined the Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management in 2020, and brings more than two decades of hands-on experience to her role. As a political staffer, she served as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s lead speechwriter — including during his time in Opposition — and as director of communications to former finance minister Bill Morneau. During her time on Parliament Hill, Jeni “held the pen” on four federal budgets and two winning political platforms. Her work experience also includes many years in the private sector, both as head of her own communications consultancy and as a communications and media specialist for Restaurants Canada, Canada’s national restaurant and foodservice industry association. As one of the program’s core faculty members, Jeni primarily teaches political communications, and also serves as the program’s mentorship coordinator, helping new students make connections with MPM alumni and the broader political community.
Recent Courses
POLM 3000 / COMS 3100 / PSCI 3410: Introduction to Political Management
POLM 5004: Advanced Strategic Communications
POLM 5007: Writing in a Political Context
POLM 5009: Media Relations
POLM 5099: Practicum Placement (academic supervisor: practicum paper)
POLM 5018: Strategic Communications
PAPM 4000D: Capstone Seminar (Communication and Policy Studies)
Selected Media
- Interview re: federal cabinet shuffle (July 25, 2023; A Little More Conversation with Ben O’Hara-Byrne on Corus Radio)
- Four ministers won’t seek re-election, cabinet shuffle expected as soon as Wednesday (July 25, 2023; The Canadian Press)
- Signed, sealed, delivered: why you should write yourself a letter (May 31, 2023; The Hill Times)
- Summer of echoes (August 3, 2022; Politico / Ottawa Playbook)
- Simplify your language to amplify your message (May 26, 2021; The Hill Times)
- Throne speech gets mixed reviews from former speechwriters (Sept. 23, 2020; CBC-TV: Power & Politics)
- What goes into writing a throne speech? (Sept. 16, 2020; CBC-TV: Power & Politics)
- 110 days. 81 addresses to the nation. What PM Trudeau’s COVID-19 messaging reveals (July 13, 2020; CTV News)
Selected Publications:
Armstrong, J. & Marland, A. “Pandemic Communications: How Leaders Encouraged Canadians to Stay the Blazes Home” in K. Brock and G. Hale (eds.), Managing Canadian Federalism Beyond Pandemic, Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (November 2023)
Armstrong, J., Marland, A., & Arnold, D. “Government by Cabinet is Back” in S. Azzi and P. Dutil (eds.,) Statecraft: Prime Ministers in Canada and their Cabinets, Toronto: University of Toronto Press. (Forthcoming)