The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). 5 E$ Q. {3 @3 E4 ?& o) Q, D + D" I0 L- G- r3 a7 z( d0 |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. : t, S' c9 ` {! ?