The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). : U4 ~9 Z( r8 C0 S: q/ d3 S$ r3 { $ l, f& o; d9 L. g, yA 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. / I* l. m3 W: ]2 W