HOUSTON LAKE MINING INC.

(HLM-TSX.V)

PRESS RELEASE

Houston Lake Commences Drilling on West Cedartree Gold Project

November 17, 2003: Sudbury, Ontario - Houston Lake Mining Inc. (TSX.V:HLM, "Houston Lake") is pleased to report that the Company has commenced a 1000m. (3280 ft.) drill program on the West Cedartree Gold Project which is located near Sioux Narrows, Ontario. Drilling targets the Angel Hill Gold Zone ("AHGZ"), one of several gold zones identified thus far in the project area.

Houston Lake now owns, or has under 100 percent option on a total of 603.6 hectares (1490.9 acres) spanning four properties in the West Cedartree Lake area. The Company has recently completed an extensive stripping, systematic channel sampling and detailed mapping program over a 130m. (426 ft.) segment of the AHGZ". The AHGZ was directly tested by 77 of the systematic channel samples which ranged from trace to 71.30 g/t Au (2.080 oz/t) and had a weighted average of 4.04 g/t Au (0.118 oz/t).

The 1000m. (3280 ft.) drill program is comprised of 20 drill holes which will systematically test the stripped portion of the AHGZ to a depth of 40m. (130 feet). The aim of the drill program is to provide the basis for a resource estimate. Several drill holes are also planned to test a swampy area which lies to the west of and adjacent to AHGZ. The AHGZ remains open in width to the west and to the south along strike. Consulting geologist, Dean Cutting, P. Geo. is the Qualified Person responsible for the project.

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 16,547,195 common shares issued and outstanding inclusive of the financing. The common shares of Houston Lake Mining Inc. trade through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol HLM. For further information, we invite you to visit us at www.houstonlakemining.com.

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