The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). * r; j! l- p9 [0 S6 O- r+ l 0 t# x& `7 n, U0 h3 B% b7 sA 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. ; T' r5 n' e% T' E, d$ c