Это не повод спешить.

not

Breakdown of Это не повод спешить.

• спешить: to hurry
• повод: the reason
• это: that/this

Questions & Answers about Это не повод спешить.

Why does the sentence start with Это? What does it do grammatically?

Это here works like a neutral “dummy subject” meaning this/that/it (situation). Russian often uses Это + noun to make a general evaluation:

• Это не повод... = “This is not a reason/occasion...”
  You can sometimes drop it in speech (Не повод спешить.), but Это makes it sound more complete and “sentence-like,” especially out of context.

Why is it не повод (nominative) and not some other case?

Because the structure is basically X is Y:

• Это (есть) повод = “This is a reason/occasion.”
  Russian usually omits есть (the present tense of “to be”), so the predicate noun (повод) stays in the nominative.

Should there be a dash: Это — не повод спешить?

Often, yes. A dash is common between Это and a predicate noun phrase for emphasis/clarity, especially in writing:

• Это — не повод спешить. (more “written,” a bit more emphatic)
  Without the dash (Это не повод спешить.) is also correct and very common, especially in everyday text.

Why does Russian use an infinitive спешить instead of something like “for hurrying” or a clause?