Why am I thinking, Oscar Brand? Possibly because the monologue you describe is reminiscent of "Something to Sing About" musical patriotism.

I guess we can take it as a given that the recording could have been a lot older than 1982. Ian and Sylvia weren't much given to speechifying, and anyway that would be a m-f duet, not a male singer...so we're looking for a revival-era male singer with a penchant for educational-type commentary, who recorded before 1982, and might or might not be Canadian...could be:

Ed McCurdy
Alan Mills
Tom Kines (I really think you should look at this possibility)

Pete Seeger
Burl Ives?????
Michael Cooney?

That said, I find the song a somewhat odd example of "the feeling between a man and his country". If Farewell To Nova Scotia has a big theme, it is that we are all bound to our fates until inevitable death...and that the prospects for a sailor are not cheerful, and he might miss the rocks of home but they don't miss him.

Good luck in your quest.

W-O