The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT).# C8 l# J; R& V) K8 g2 p
; B! X0 P9 |4 z- A" c6 d( e* c* gA 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.0 `, y; ]9 C! ` I' Q7 p8 `* F4 N