Exhibit 5


NEWS RELEASE VIA CCN MATTHEWS, VANCOUVER 604-683-1066

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER U.S. WIRE SERVICES. ANY
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S.
SECURITIES LAWS.

ATTENTION BUSINESS/FINANCIAL EDITORS:

HAWKER RESOURCES INC. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF EQUITY OFFERING

CALGARY, May 29, 2003 - Hawker Resources Inc. (TSX:HKR) announced today that a
syndicate of underwriters has purchased the entire amount of the company's first
public offering of common shares since the oil and gas company was formed in
April 2003.

The syndicate, led by Peters & Co. Limited and including FirstEnergy Capital
Corp., Griffiths McBurney & Partners and Tristone Capital Inc, has agreed to
purchase 14,286,000 common shares of Hawker at a price of $3.15 for total
proceeds of approximately $45.0 million. The common share offering was
originally announced on April 24, 2002 and is described in Hawker's final
prospectus dated May 29, 2003. Closing of the offering is expected to occur on
or about June 12, 2003.

The Corporation also announced that it has obtained a $28.0 million extendible
revolving term credit facility from a Canadian chartered bank.

Net proceeds of the offering, together with funds drawn on the credit facility,
will be used to complete the previously announced acquisition of properties
formerly held by Southward Energy Ltd. The properties include both producing
assets and prospective exploration plays on lands located east of Edmonton in
the Lavoy and Cold Lake/Bonnyville areas of Alberta.

"The terms of the offering constitute a major vote of confidence in the
Corporation's management and business plan" said David A. Tuer, Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation. "This offering will allow the Corporation to
exercise the purchase option it holds and acquire a 50% interest in a very
attractive package of producing gas properties."

Hawker Resources was formed from the shell of the former biotech research
company, Synsorb Biotech Inc. Since the transformation of Synsorb was announced
in February 2003, shares in the company have risen from a low of $0.73 to a high
of $3.57. The closing price of the Hawker common shares on May 29, 2003 was
$3.45.

The transaction is pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated May 29, 2003 and
is subject to customary closing conditions. The common shares have not been, and
will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may
not be offered or sold in the United States without an exemption from the
applicable registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the common shares in the
United States.

For further information: David A. Tuer, Chief Executive Officer, Telephone:
(403) 294-0067, Fax: (403) 294-0062

ADVISORY: The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the
information contained herein. Certain information regarding the company,
including management's assessment of future plans and operations, may constitute
forward-looking statements under applicable securities law and necessarily
involve risks associated with oil and gas exploration, production, marketing and
transportation such as loss of market, volatility of prices, currency
fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition
from other producers and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and
external sources; as a consequence, actual results may differ materially from
those anticipated. The company assumes no obligation to update the
forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could
differ from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements.