The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). 6 C' m* e9 h) u; h5 [, A. g " h- U% U4 Z7 g+ i$ b' U, _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. ! x9 o; s. p" Z! q