The Finance Department says Flaherty is scheduled to hold a news conference on Thursday at 8:15 a.m. (1215 GMT). 1 m! D. r: L6 \ 8 ?4 S; D' y1 O2 J1 f& aA 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.6 j* i2 {& @" h0 A# A8 [& s