There has been a change. If your valid license is not in French (as a Canadian, yours might be) or you are not from the EU (UK licenses are OK), then you should have either an official translation or an IDP.

I rather doubt anyone will ask you or really care unless you are in an accident and are required to present yourself officially at a local Préfecture. If that happens you can always get a translation locally but, in Paris at least, the going rate is 50€.