The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). - `. W2 ^) ~8 s7 b % J3 K; g; R6 F W' w7 O" iA 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.( f6 d, ?+ t* f# W