The Germany keeper has been stripped of his leadership role with Barca after he refused to sign a medical document declaring he would be missing for six months after undergoing back surgery.
Ter Stegen's surgeon has assured him he will be back in action inside three months, with the veteran determined to take the pitch well before Christmas.
The dispute centres on Barca's need to make room in their wage budget to register new arrivals Joan Garcia and Marcus Rashford. If Ter Stegen had been ruled out for six months, LaLiga regulations would clear Barca to use 80 per cent of his wages towards another player.
But the German's insistence on his three-month return has left management frustrated and they have now stripped him of the club captaincy.
In response, Canizares told El Partidazo de COPE: "A captain represents the players in a match and at the negotiating table when it comes to bonuses or a dispute. He can't be lazy, create a bad atmosphere, or be selfish.
"He has to be an example. He has to encourage everyone to commit and perform well, to be a team player, to have a good vibe and to try to resolve conflicts.
"But, if you create conflict. If you have an open war with the club, it makes no sense for that player to be captain. The captain would now be there to resolve Ter Stegen's conflict.'
"When he hasn't played, his behaviour has left a lot to be desired. But like many Germans, they have that behaviour.
"They have to be starters. We goalkeepers are guilty of being selfish because if we don't start, we don't play all year."