HOUSTON LAKE MINING INC.

(HLM-TSX.V)

PRESS RELEASE

Houston Lake Expands Target on the West Cedartree Gold Project

June 12, 2003: Sudbury, Ontario - Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V:HLM, "Houston Lake") is pleased to provide an update on exploration of the 603.6 hectare (1490.9 acre) West Cedartree Gold Project located near Sioux Narrows in the Kenora Mining District of Ontario. Geological mapping, mechanized stripping and channel sampling programs have commenced as of May 26, 2003. Current exploration builds upon recently completed line-cutting and geophysical surveys. The New Shear Zone ("NSZ") has now been traced in outcrop for an additional 150m. (492 ft.) for a total length of 225m. (738 ft.) and is open to the south. Higher grade gold values in previous samples (see Table 1) correspond to the newly recognized Core Zone, a distinctive subunit of the NSZ.

Houston Lake now owns or has under 100 percent option a total of 603.6 hectares (1490.9 acres) spanning four properties in the West Cedartree Lake area. The property is accessed by an all-weather gravel road, which traverses the northern portions of the project area. Past exploration has focused on the McLennan Shear Zone ("MSZ") at the northerly-striking contact of mafic volcanics with a large gabbro body. In 1997 a new 10 to 20 metre wide shear zone ("NSZ") was identified internal to the gabbro. Preliminary trenching and stripping was carried out over 75m. (246 ft.) of the NSZ last Summer (see Company Press Releases dated August 21, 2002 and September 10, 2002).

Table 1. Compilation of 1997 & 2002 Results Over the Core Zone of the NSZ

¹ Channel sample results, 2002 ² Systematic chip sample results, 1997.

The vertically dipping and rusty weathering NSZ has been recently been re-examined in light last fall’s stripping program and the invaluable input of the Government of Ontario’s Resident Geologists Office in Kenora. The 8-10m. (26-33 ft.) wide NSZ yielded an average of 1.88 g/t in 60 channel samples. The NSZ is comprised of three distinct units:

A half metre wide barren diorite dike that crosscuts the zone.

A mafic schist with 20-30% calcium and iron carbonates that flanks the core zone.

A half to one metre wide core zone that consists of mafic schist containing 35-40% iron and calcium carbonate, minor silica flooding, 5-10% fuchsite, and minor sulphides. This distinctive core zone corresponds to the higher grade values portrayed in Table 1. The subunit extends for at least 118 metres (387 ft.) along a N-S strike.

The NSZ has been traced for 225m. (738 ft.) and appears to terminate along strike near the northern property boundary. However, assessment files reveal that a gold-in-soil anomalous zone (values in excess of 20 ppb. Au) continues along strike for approximately 1 km (3280 ft.) to the south of the NSZ. A gold showing also occurs along strike about 1.4 km (4592 ft.) to the south of the NSZ. A magnetic high can be traced for a total length of 2.1 km. (6888 ft.). from the NSZ southward and passes through the vicinity of soil anomalies and the gold showing.

The present program has two goals. Property-scale mapping will continue to investigate possible southern extensions of the NSZ and MSZ. Mechanized stripping and washing will seek to expose a 118 m. (387 ft.) strike length of the high grade core zone contained within the NSZ. Systematic channel sampling at 20 metre intervals combined with detailed mapping will be the first step in analyzing the economic potential of the exposed 118m. segment of the NSZ. A 1000m. (3280 ft.) drill program is planned to follow up the detailed evaluation of the NSZ. Dean Cutting, P. Geo. is the Qualified Person responsible for the project.

Houston Lake has granted incentive 25,000 stock options priced at $0.28 to directors and employees of the Company. The grant is subject to regulatory approval.

Houston Lake is actively exploring for Gold, Platinum Group Metals and Rare Metals with a strategic focus on northwestern Ontario. The Company has a total of 15,828,195 common shares issued and outstanding. The common shares of Houston Lake Mining Inc. trade through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol HLM. For further information on all of the Company's projects, we invite you to visit us at www.houstonlakemining.com.

For more information, please contact:

Web Site: www.houstonlakemining.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.