The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT)./ ^# E/ p" v. I' x+ H7 W. U2 d
& m* a- V* g8 j& XA 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.$ N$ C1 Z8 N, ]5 H; r$ T