The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT)." X5 i/ t; ?) N/ z3 d. v8 i0 [
* K+ i: U- V9 @. v" h6 fA 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.8 k' N) ]$ L6 g+ u/ o