The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). 4 u- d; K7 x+ T8 i4 s+ L $ V0 M# F1 w0 f; g" S2 ]A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government will reduce the maximum amortization period of a mortgage to 25 years from 30 years, and lower the level of home equity that can be borrowed against to 80 percent from 85 percent.4 z Y. `2 E, m3 l( L